THE This Thursday, Benfica hosts the match against Gil Vicente that defines the last club to be in the final four of this season’s League Cup.
After a series of positive results, the Eagles will want to continue and place themselves in the decisive phase of the competition as they have the most trophies won.
However, on the other side is the coach who won the competition last season, albeit with a Vitória SC team that is not in this edition, having, along the way, left FC Porto and Sporting along the way.
The two teams have already faced each other this season, precisely at the Estádio da Luz, with Benfica winning 3-1 in a complicated turnaround. The Eagles are on a run of nine consecutive victories against Gil Vicente in all competitions, with the Reds’ last defeat coming at the Estádio da Luz, in the 2021/22 season.
The match between Benfica and Gil Vicente is scheduled to kick off at 8:45 pm this Thursday, at Estádio da Luz, in Lisbon, and will be judged by José Bessa, a referee from the Porto Football Association.
Coaches in direct speech
Marco Silva
Jhon Durán case: “We don’t have any decision. I did the analysis I did based on the feedback I got from the player. I already had access to the report and it only confirmed my statements at the end of the game. Everything I read only made me more certain that absolutely nothing had happened. Fortunately, I believed in the player and that’s my role, I want them to be honest, making mistakes or not making mistakes. We all make mistakes in life. But it only confirmed what I had said. I’m very curious to understand what the decision will be after seeing what I saw and reading the that was written. He is summoned for tomorrow.”
Clinical bulletin: “Banjaqui is very close to being available, but it’s still early. We will make decisions in the next few days to understand where he will start competing. Enzo is gradually integrating the team, which is good. Kaminski is back and will be in the squad. And Leandro (Barreiro), you know, will take a little longer.”
What to expect from Gil Vicente: “A quality team, very well trained, as they have demonstrated, which we have already faced in a game that became difficult due to the quality and organization that the opponent demonstrated at Estádio da Luz. We played a beautiful game that afternoon, and Gil made the task difficult, in a fair victory, but difficult, because they have quality players and the well-planned strategy for the opponents. It will be a different game, but it is a decision game, in a game that involves a final four, so it has some different connotations, but as we always approach the games to win, we will give everything to do so, a little like what we did against them already.”
Luis Pinto
The League Cup: “I think this competition should be played by all clubs. It shouldn’t be so restricted.”
Game in the Light: “We expect an extremely solid Benfica, as it has been throughout the season, and with a very high offensive quality. It will require our best level to compete and be able to pass this round. We are going with the maximum ambition possible. We want to reach the Estádio da Luz and overcome this round and remain in this competition.”
Ambition in the test: “We always believe that we can do things that can leave an impact on our lives. We have to have the humility to be very competent and understand that we are going to have a hugely demanding game.”
Latest results
Benfica: VVVVD
Gil Vicente: DVVVE
Last eleven
Benfica: Samuel Soares, Alexander Bah, Clément Lenglet, Tomás Araújo, Samuel Dahl, João Palhinha, Fredrik Aursnes, Rafa Silva, Georgiy Sudakov, Gianluca Prestianni, Vangelis Pavlidis.
Gil Vicente: Lucão, Ricardo Esgaio, Jonathan Buatu, Marvin Elimbi, David Moreira, Andreas Lausen, Diogo Prioste, Murilo Souza, Santi García, Joelson Fernandes, Walace França.
Absences
Benfica: Daniel Banjaqui, Leandro Barreiro, Jaden Umeh and Enzo Barrenenchea (injured).
Gil Vicente: Weverson Costa, Mohamed Bamba, Héctor Hernández and Arthur Tchaptchet (doubtful), Marvin Elimbi (suspended).
