SL BENFICA latest news -Uefa Cup bound

[tyrus]

benfica should have won that game 2-0 awful finishing from benfica though. now on to san siro

forca benfica
time to shine some portuguese pride.

[Frank Cunha]

Benfica vs Inter, rating's [R]
Moreira 6
Miguel 8
Luisao 6
Ricardo Rocha 8
Armando 6
Petit 8
Tiago 6
Geovanni 6
Zahovic 6
Simao 8
Sokota 8

subs
Joao Pereira 6
Cristiano 4
Manuel Fernandes 6


attendance 64,569

referee a surprise 8 J.W Wegereef

[Frank Cunha]

Inter

Toldo 8, best player on the game
Cordoba 8
Adani 6
Cannavaro 6
Helveg 4
Farinos 2
J. Zanetti 6
C. Zanetti 4
Karagounis 4
Recoba 2
Martins 4


Subs
Okan 2
Julio Cruz 4

[Frank Cunha]

'Nothing to fear' for Benfica
Thursday, 11 March 2004
By Patrick Hart in Lisbon



Benfica's Luisão (left) tussles with Julio Cruz


SL Benfica played their best football of the season and have nothing to fear from FC Internazionale in a fortnight's time. That was the verdict of the Portuguse side's assistant coach Álvaro Magalhães following tonight's 0-0 draw in the UEFA Cup fourth round first-leg tie at the Estádio da Luz.

Benfica dominance
After a game in which the Portuguese side dominated their Italian opponents, both territorially and in terms of goalscoring opportunities, Magalhães said: "I am very proud of our players, they were fantastic. This was our best display of the season and we are just sorry we couldn't get a goal."

We created a lot of chances and I am very confident

Álvaro Magalhães


'Play to win'
"We are satisfied that the tie is open for the second leg," he continued. "We created a lot of chances and I am very confident for the return. We will go to Italy to win. We are playing very well at the moment and if we keep up this attitude we have nothing to fear."

Happy with a draw
"The Italians just came to defend, they didn't really threaten us," Magalhães said. "But they showed respect for Benfica – the way they played was proof of that. Now we will go to Italy to give our supporters something to celebrate."

This draw could yet be a very good result

Alberto Zaccheroni


Improvement required
Meanwhile, Inter coach Alberto Zaccheroni warned his players that only an improved performance in the return leg would be enough to claim a quarter-final place. "For the second leg, the tie depends on how we play, on our attitude," he said. "It will be very difficult if we play like we did tonight, if we concede possession as we did. It depends on the whole team. This draw could yet be a very good result for us. But we have to do better in attack, and win more of the second balls in the return leg."

'Show of character'
Zaccheroni did, however, praise the character his team showed in the face of constant Benfica pressure. "It was a show of character from this Inter side," he said. "We managed to keep a clean sheet, but I expected a better reaction from my players and more from us on the break. But Benfica didn't let us play, they put a lot of pressure on us."

'Technically strong'
Of the home side, the coach added: "From the middle of the pitch going forward, they are a very strong team technically. They have some very dynamic players in the middle of the pitch [Tiago and Petit], and two very dangerous wingers who excel in one-on-ones [Simão Sabrosa and Geovanni]. We had a few chances with Recoba in the first half, and then Martins in the second. But we didn't win enough balls and we defended too deep. We didn't attack as we wanted t

[verde-rubro]

benfica should of had a pen watched the game on tvi

[Jager]

Vieri will be back in the next game, I expect a more attacking side. The draw was what I expected, and the clean sheet is more of an accomlishment for INTER at this stage, as we've been rather shakey in our own end. Zac summed it up perfectly.

Having said that, I believe we are seeing the rebirth of Portugese football, as you have many wonderfull sides. :thumbsup:

[Frank Cunha]

all we need is a 1-1 game

we also got Nuno Gomes coming back for the game

[Frank Cunha]

A late Simâo Sabrosa penalty allowed SL Benfica to defeat CS Marítimo 1-0 in the Portuguese Superliga’s late game on Sunday and move to within four points of second-placed Sporting Clube de Portugal.

Nerve kept
The Portuguese international converted the 80th-minute spot-kick, deciding the match in favour of José Antonio Camacho’s team, who drew 0-0 against FC Internazionale in the UEFA Cup on Thursday. Leaders FC Porto, who eliminated Manchester United FC from the UEFA Champions League two days earlier, won by the same margin against Boavista FC on Saturday.

In-form McCarthy
José Mourinho’s remarkably consistent side were indebted to a 73rd-minute strike from in-form forward Benni McCarthy for their victory in the Porto derby. Also on Saturday, SC Braga defeated FC Paços de Ferreira 2-1 and CF Os Belenenses went down 1-0 at home to CD Nacional.

Away wins
On Sunday, Moreirense outclassed AA Coimbra 3-0 away from home thanks to goals from Sérgio Lomba, Antonio Tito and Francisco Castro, while Rio Ave FC produced another outstanding performance on the road to see off CF Estrela da Amadora in a match in which Paulo Cesar scored twice in the second half.

Fonseca double
Gil Vicente also won on their travels courtesy of a double from Yuri Fonseca in a 2-0 defeat of Vitória SC while UD Leiria overcame SC Beira Mar 2-1. In Monday night’s game, Sporting face Alverca Futebol SAD

[Frank Cunha]

Arsenal are chasing Benfica midfielder Tiago.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had scouts watch the 22 year-old in action at Inter Milan during the week.

The youngster turned in an outstanding performance and the Arsenal representative is said to have given Wenger a glowing report on the midfielder.

[Frank Cunha]

Southampton, Manchester United and Charlton scouting Miguel, the coach of the Saints was in Lisbon to watch Benfica vs Inter,
Miguel got a contract until 2008

Tiago was scouted by Juventus and the game been televised live in Italy help,
Real Sociedade and Sevilha also send scouts to the game

Southampton atento à evolução de Miguel

As prestações de Miguel na presente temporada têm despertado a cobiça dos principais clubes da Premier League. Ontem, na Luz, estiveram emissários do Southampton, Manchester United e Charlton Athletic.

Convém registar que a cobiça do Southampton não é uma novidade. Ao longo da época, a equipa inglesa já observou vários encontros do Benfica na SuperLiga. Os relatórios sobre as exibições do lateral-direito foram extremamente positivos, o que levou à presença do próprio técnico dos "Saints", Paul Sturrock, em Lisboa.

Recorde-se que o Benfica conseguiu salvaguardar os seus interesses e durante a temporada garantiu a continuidade de Miguel até 2008. Logo, uma eventual transferência do internacional português para a Inglaterra terá de ser devidamente compensada a nível financeiro. Resta saber se os dirigentes encarnados também estão interessados em prescindir de uma das jóias.

Luís Filipe Vieira por diversas vezes já manifestou a vontade de garantir uma formação forte. Só uma proposta irrecusável poderá tirar o lateral-direito da Luz.

Tiago em directo

Tiago foi outro jogador em foco para os olheiros internacionais. O interesse das principais formações transalpinas no médio não é uma novidade. Aliás, o adversário de ontem é um dos emblemas que há muito seguem a evolução de Tiago, assim como a Juventus. A transmissão televisiva do encontro para Itália certamente ajudou.

Resta acrescentar que alguns emissários espanhóis também não perderam a hipótese de assistir ao jogo. Real Sociedad e Sevilha estiveram na nova catedral.

[Frank Cunha]

early in the second half
Sporting-1-Alverca-0

first half , U21 Carlos Martins scored for Sporting, he love's to play on Joao Pinto spot, and his on fired

[Bentex]

Originally Posted by Frank Cunha

Arsenal are chasing Benfica midfielder Tiago.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had scouts watch the 22 year-old in action at Inter Milan during the week.

The youngster turned in an outstanding performance and the Arsenal representative is said to have given Wenger a glowing report on the midfielder.

he's too good for arsenal.

[Frank Cunha]

I agree :thumbsup:

[tyrus]

soon to be sold though as sporting does with all thier talent