Match Previews

Almost impossible to get the desired 3rd place of the group: they need to beat Metalist with a 8-goal difference!... Eliminated from the Portuguese Cup at Leixões on penalties... Unbeaten league leaders with 25 points in 11 matchdays... Quim (r)(gk), Ruben Amorim (r)(mid) and Reyes (k)(mid) rested... Di María (sp)(mid) returns and he's part of the 18 players' call-up... Almost impossible mission for Benfica, not to say it's completely impossible. The Eagles are currently last placed of this group with only 1 point and, to get the 3rd place that allows them to reach the next stage, not only they need to beat Metalist with a eight-goal difference (!), but they also have to wait for a draw between Olympiacos and Hertha. As you can see, all the odds are against Benfica, who saw their hopes ending with that miserable 5-1 loss at Greece (after having drawn 1-1 at Hertha and lost 0-2 at home against Galatasaray). Anyway, they will surely try to win this game, even if they are perfectly aware that they won't reach their goal. Yes, it's true that Benfica recently got a long-margin 0-6 league victory at Marítimo (7th December) but the odds to beat Metalist by eight goals are low, low, low. Benfica were eliminated last Sunday at Leixões for the Portuguese Cup on penalties. José Antonio Reyes missed the only shot and he's also missing this game. The Spaniard is having a rest, just like goalkeeper Quim (third consecutive game out of Quique's choices) and midfielder Ruben Amorim. Left-winger Di María has recovered from a foot injury and he's part of the 18 players' call-up. Benfica will need to create as many scoring opportunities as they can so maybe Balboa and Urretavizcaya will be on the flanks to accelerate the team. What about Óscar Cardozo, who is desperate to have more first team football? Will he have a chance to start? Quique Flores removed some pressure off the players, saying this is an impossible mission and he's just worried to win the game and see the players' behaviour. Cardozo is likely to begin up front with Nuno Gomes, allowing David Suazo and Pablo Aimar to have little rest on the bench. Other possible changes might have to do with the right-back spot, where Binya may rotate Maxi Pereira, Miguel Vítor benching Sidnei and Fellipe Bastos partnering Yebda in centre-midfield with Katsouranis on the bench.