Match Previews

Coming from a 4-1 Cup win over Paços de Ferreira but that doesn't clear the bad image given in the Liga, where they are 10 points behind leaders Porto... Camacho to bet on a tall attacking duo with Makukula and Cardozo (r)?... Right-midfielder Maxi Pereira (r) and forward Nuno Gomes (sp) are out due to injury... Defensive midfielder Petit (k) seems fine... Benfica are coming from a 4-1 Cup win over Paços de Ferreira and striker Óscar Cardozo was the key man of the game. The Paraguayan International scored a brace (with two penalties) and the curious thing is that he entered as substitute, as Benfica were losing by that time. The other goals were scored by the key playmaker Rui Costa and also by Nuno Assis. That match against Paços de Ferreira was the opportunity for the powerful striker Ariza Makukula to debut as Benfica player. He's a giant but he really lacks on technical skills to be considered a top striker. Anyway, the UEFA Cup is a competition where Benfica have bigger ambitions comparing to the league, where they are 10 points behind leaders Porto and the only thing they can aim is the 2nd place to provide a direct CL place. Left-back Leo will start but he's visibly far from his best form. We already saw much better from him and it's clear it has something got do with his contract situation, as he will leave the club in the end of the season. Moreover, his father is very ill. But even a poor Leo is much better than Nélson or Luís Filipe, who usually play on the right full-back. Those two fail so much on concentration that sometimes we wonder how they are professional footballers. This 4-1 win over Paços was useful to remove some pressure from the fans when playing at their own Estádio da Luz. Sometimes the Luz's hell can be a true hell for themselves when things are not going so well. Right-midfielder Maxi Pereira and forward Nuno Gomes are definitely out. Defensive midfielder Petit is recovered and he should play. Thus, Camacho will probably bet on a centre midfield with Katsouranis and Petit together, behind the more creative Rui Costa. There is still a place for Cristián Rodríguez on the left wing but the most interesting feature should be the selection of the two tall strikers upfront. Cardozo and Makukula might play together but if Camacho prefers to use only one of them, then Nuno Assis would enter the starting eleven.