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Why the Champions League could be under the Portuguese revolution

Angela Asante, September 12 2011,
Europe could be affected by the Portuguese fever this season. Elites like Manchester United and perhaps even Barcelona may need special tactics to protect their fortress.

FC Porto and Benfica could enjoy a great UEFA Champions League season.

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Portugal have 2 representatives in the UEFA Champions League. They are FC Porto and Benfica. The Dragons are in Group G with Zenit St Petersburg, Shakhtar Donetsk and APOEL FC. Rivals Benfica, meanwhile, have been drawn alongside Man United, FC Basel and Otelul Galati.

It could sound fair to say that FC Porto have a better chance than the Eagles of being assured of knock-out stage football in the UEFA Champions League this year. In a quick analysis of Group G, APOEL would be tipped to finish at the bottom.

Russian side Zenit might do enough to qualify for the UEFA Europa League after producing great efforts. Shakhtar Donetsk, meanwhile, would be tipped to hand FC Porto a real fight at the top of the table.

 

Still, the Dragons should be happy to have fallen in such a section. Fortunately, they have avoided tougher opponents such as AC Milan or Manchester City.

Eventually, Benfica are left with the opportunity of grabbing the headlines with upsets since they share a group with giants Manchester United. FC Basel and Otelul Galati should not bother the Eagles too much, unless the media would have to call Benfica’s UEFA Champions League campaign “a disaster.”

Talking about the Portuguese fever, it could also be spread through Chelsea. Remember that the Blues, who recently added Portugal international Raul Meireles to their roster, have Andre Villas-Boas as coach. Portuguese-speaking Brazilian defender David Luiz is also part of Chelsea’s squad.

Last season, the UEFA Europa League was hit by the Portuguese fever. Eventual champions FC Porto were joined by underdogs Sporting Braga in the final whereas Benfica completed the Portuguese trio in the semi-finals.

How will the Portuguese influence work out in the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League?

FC Porto vs Shakhtar Donetsk will kick-start the Dragons' European campaign. But the Eagles' clash against Manchester United remains one of the biggest games of Match-day 1.



 

Benfica vs Manchester United

Date: Wednesday, 14 Sep 2011
Time: 14:45 ( US/Eastern )
Competition: UEFA Champions League
Live/Repeat: Live
Venue: Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica (da Luz) (Lisboa)

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