THE Alverca visits the Estádio da Luz to face Benfica, in one of the matches that ends round 10 of the I League this Monday. The Eagles want to continue their good momentum, but the truth is that Alverca also wants to score again, after two consecutive defeats.
However, Ribatejo’s task will be very complicated, as the team led by Marco Silva is on a run of five consecutive victories and will certainly not want to stop there, as they chase championship leader FC Porto.
Furthermore, Benfica wants to return to second place in the league table, after seeing Sporting win in Rio Maior and the margin drop to just one point.
Even so, Alverca will not go to the Estádio da Luz for a walk, as they want to get closer to the places that could lead to European qualification for next season, while at the same time cementing a place in the top half of the table.
The history between the two teams is very unbalanced, as Benfica has 10 wins in 14 matches and only three defeats, with a draw in between. The last time the Reds lost points in this duel was precisely at the Estádio da Luz, with Alverca winning 0-2, in May 2001, having lost all six games since then.
Even so, the truth is that in the most recent meetings, last season, both of Benfica’s triumphs were achieved with a minimal margin and with a final result of 2-1 in favor of the eagles.
Benfica-Alverca’s kick-off is scheduled for 8:15 pm (Mainland Portugal time) this Monday, and will be judged by Bruno Pires Costa, from the Viana do Castelo Football Association, who will have as assistants Nelson Pereira and João Morte, as fourth referee José Carlos Rodrigues, as VAR Luís Ferreira and as AVAR João Bessa Silva.
Coaches in direct speech
Marco Silva
What you ask of the squad: “Above all, what we have been as a team. It is obvious that good performances help us to be stronger and win games, being true to our identity. There is always an opponent in front of us, which sometimes complicates our task. What is non-negotiable are the characteristics we have had as a team, both in preparation and on the field, to be the team we have been, equal to ourselves, improving some aspects that are the best, which are fundamental for us to have control of the game with and without ball”.
Defense improvements: “It’s obvious that we can’t change the individual characteristics of many players in such a short space of time, some with little time to work. Above all, there are collective and positioning issues that we have to work on. Sometimes, it will have to be almost passive, without taking too much energy from the players. We practically don’t have clean weeks to work with intensity, and moments to work on moments that we want to have.”
Dangers of Alverca: “It’s a team that presents difficulties. Even in the games in which they were defeated, it’s a team that has, in some position, very young players, but very irreverent, with technical quality. It’s a team that plays in a line of three with the ball at the back and very deep flanks, and then closes down to five. It’s a team that has principles with the ball, and, due to that same irreverence from midfield to the front, ends up giving the game unpredictability and creating some problems for the opponents. It’s a difficult opponent. We don’t look at the table.”
Sergio Ferreira
Que Alverca at Estádio da Luz: “We are aware of who we are and who we are going to play against. We prepared the game with some strategic care. We are not going to give up on our idea, but we want to be consistent and maintain the belief of wanting to do things well collectively. This game is another opportunity for us to grow”.
Steven Baseya and André Vidigal suspended: “We believe in everyone and whoever comes in will be prepared for these moments. We have to be an extremely consistent defending team. We won’t deviate from our standard of play, but we have to recognize that, on the other side, we have a very competent and capable Benfica, who can change the game from one moment to the next”.
Diogo Spencer returns to Benfica: “This season he has played on the left and on the right because we recognize his ability and he has managed to respond. He has to be focused on training and the game to be able to respond affirmatively at a higher level than Alverca. I believe that this game could touch him on a more personal level, but he is a great professional, he is identified with the process and loyal to what we have asked of him on an individual level”.
Latest results
Benfica: VVVVV
Alverca:DDVVV
Last eleven
Benfica: Anatoliy Trubin, Samuel Dahl, Clément Lenglet, Alessandro Circati, Souffian El Karouani, Claudio Echeverri, João Palhinha, Dodi Lukebakio, Georgiy Sudakov, Andreas Schjelderup, Jhon Durán.
Alverca: Matheus Mendes, Steven Baseya, Sergi Gómez, Isaac James, Diogo Spencer, Rayan Lucas, Davy Gui, Francisco Chissumba, Chiquinho, Dawda Camara, Figueiredo.
Absences
Benfica: Leandro Barreiro, Enzo Barrenechea, Jaden Udeh (injured) and Daniel Banjaqui (doubtful).
Alverca: Steven Baseya and André Vidigal (suspended), Bastien Meupiyou (doubtful) and Sabit Abdulai (injured).
