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Benfica v Gil Vicente Portuguese League Cup final: Jorge Jesus with little to gain and much to lose
This weekend sees the Portuguese Taça da Liga final played between Benfica and Gil Vicente. The Lisbon giants start as overwhelming favourites, but that will not overawe Gil one bit.
Paulo Alves’ side have acquitted themselves admirably to life back in the top flight this season, gaining wins over FC Porto, Sporting and Braga. And although their two league games against Benfica yielded a draw and a defeat, the modest team from the northern town of Barcelos pushed the Eagles all the way on both occasions. Gil’s refusal to adopt an overly defensive attitude when facing the bigger teams have won the club many friends. Alves is not just playing lip service when he says, “we’ll be doing everything to win, so I expect a good game and a festival of football.”
Furthermore, in pacey and skilful Portuguese centre-forward Hugo Vieira, Gil have a player who is surely destined for bigger things and who can cause any defence trouble.
Why Zenit encounter could be the defining moment of the Jorge Jesus Benfica era
In nearly three years in charge at Benfica Jorge Jesus has brought swashbuckling football, pride and huge crowds back to the Estádio da Luz.
However, the home defeat by FC Porto in Friday’s clássico gave the Lisbon club’s bitter rivals from the north a three-point advantage as the title race goes into the home straight. Should the Dragons remain top until the end of the season, and barring an unlikely triumph in the Champions League, the only silverware of note Benfica would have won in Jesus’ tenure would have been the 2009/10 championship.
With presidential elections around the corner, that trophy haul may well prove too little for Benfica’s demanding public and dictate the departure of the 57 year old.
But the season is not over yet. Jesus needs one of two things to happen to save his job.
Jorge Jesus feels referees deliberately robbed Benfica in 3-2 Porto loss
Benfica coach Jorge Jesus has slammed match officials following his team’s controversial defeat to 3-2 winners FC Porto.
Oscar Cardozo scored for the Eagles late in the first half and early in the second period to cancel out Hulk’s opener but James Rodriguez brought Porto on equal terms in the 64th minute. Benfica’s Emerson saw red in the 77th minute for fouling key man Hulk from behind. Ten minutes later, Maicon finished off a James Rodriguez free-kick with a header from an offside position. With this hard-fought victory, FC Porto moved 3 points clear off their bitter rivals at the displeasure of Jorge Jesus.
“Benfica did not deserve to lose. It was an excellent game, with two great teams, but it was a shame that Benfica lost it, we did nothing to deserve this,” Jesus told the press in the aftermath of the encounter.
Vitoria Guimaraes vs Benfica Preview
Benfica will look to restore their five-point lead on Monday evening as they travel to Vitória Guimarães in the final Round 19 match in Portugal.
Benfica’s superb run of eleven straight wins came to an end in the sub-zero temperatures of Russia against Zenit St. Petersburg last Wednesday, but coach Jorge Jesus says it is simply a matter of licking their wounds and getting straight back on a winning run. “The time between the two games (Zenit and Guimarães) is essential to recover properly, and from that point of view there is no problem. We are coming off a defeat, but it was a defeat that gives us confidence of making progress in the Champions League,” said Jesus.
“Now we must focus on Guimarães. This is one of the most difficult opponents we are going to face until the end of the championship. Guimarães are always strong, especially in their own stadium.”
Benfica vs Vitoria Setubal Preview
A buoyant Benfica will be looking to consolidate top spot as they host struggling Vitória de Setúbal at the Estádio da Luz on Saturday night.
The Eagles are soaring after finally pulling away from bitter rivals FC Porto at the table summit after last weekend’s results, albeit only by two points. Benfica have been in scintillating form of late, scoring no fewer than 13 goals in their last 3 matches. And having lost only once in all competitions this season, perhaps the biggest task Benfica coach Jorge Jesus faces this weekend is to stamp out any complacency among his players.
“Nobody wins a match before it is played. If we think we are the better team we’ll have to prove it on the pitch. We want to defend first place. The Benfica players and coach know that you only achieve things with a lot of sacrifice and a lot of hard work,” said Jesus.
Benfica vs Oţelul Galaţi Preview
Benfica will be aiming to secure top spot in Champions Leauge Group C with victory over Romanian outfit Otelul Galati in Lisbon.
The Portuguese giants must recover from their first defeat of the season. Marítimo knocked the Eagles out of the Portuguese Cup on Friday, but coach Jorge Jesus insists his team are still having "a brilliant season". "We want to continue doing what we have done up to now. We are coming off a defeat in Madeira, after 22 consecutive games without losing, so we want to get on the right track again. To do so we will have to be at our best level," said Jesus.
Indeed, perhaps the biggest job facing the Benfica boss will be eradicating any complacency among his squad. Otelul are making their debut in the tournament and have not covered themselves in glory. The Romanian side have lost all five of their five matches played so far.
Manchester United vs Benfica Report
Manchester United and Benfica played out a pulsating 2-2 draw at Old Trafford tonight.
The Portuguese side will be happier with the result, as Benfica go top of Group C thanks to a favorable head-to-head record against Manchester United, having scored more away goals than the English giants in the two draws between the two teams. With a home match against group whipping boys Otelul Galati to come, the Lisbon club will be confident of finishing the section in top spot.
Benfica got off the perfect start as Phil Jones turned a Gaitan cross-shot into his own net in the 3rd minute.
United equalised on the half-hour mark as Berbatov glanced in Nani's pinpoint cross.
Manchester United vs Benfica Preview
Benfica go into their Champions League match against Manchester United tomorrow still unbeaten this season and, according to coach Jorge Jesus, eyeing a victory that would guarantee top spot in Group C with one match to spare.
Winning the group will carry the considerable prize of ensuring that Barcelona or Real Madrid will not be possible opponents in the round of sixteen. The Eagles more than held their own against United in Lisbon in mid September, and a record of thirteen victores and seven draws from their twenty games in 2011/12 will see Benfica march into Old Trafford far from overawed.
"A good result is a win, as we would qualify for the next phase, which was our aim at the start of the competition," said Jesus.
Beira-Mar vs Benfica Preview
Benfica travel to Beira-Mar on Saturday night riding the crest of a wave.
Jorge Jesus’ side have enjoyed a fabulous start to the new campaign, raising hopes among the Benfica faithful that they can recapture the title they won in such exhilarating style in 2009/10, only to have it ruthlessly ripped away from them by a rampant FC Porto last season.The two bitter rivals are joint top of the Liga ZON Sagres after seven rounds, but while Porto have as yet failed to recapture the blistering form they showed under André Villas-Boas, Benfica have been almost flawless thus far.
A plethora of summer signings have been seamlessly molded into a well-oiled unit, with goalkeeper Artur and midfielders Witsel, Nolito and Bruno Cesar especially impressive.
Sporting Braga Vs Benfica: Can Braga End Jorge Jesus' Hopes For Silverware?
Benfica have a slender 2-1 lead ahead of their visit to Braga tonight but European nights are impossible to predict and it could even be an end to Jorge Jesus' hopes for silverware this season.
'Frustrating' is the clear description of Benfica's roller-coaster season so far. Watching rivals FC Porto lift the title in their very own Estadio da Luz must have been as painful as seeing Porto once against blow Benfica's hopes for silverware in the Portugal cup after Andre Villas-Boas men defeated them. But the quest for a trophy has not been concluded yet for this season with Benfica still in a strong position for a Europa League final spot.
But standing in their way is Sporting Braga. Frankly speaking, Braga proved to be more than just an ordinary opponents during the first leg at Benfica last week and while Benfica do have a very slender lead, it remains to be seen whether they will be able to finish the job at Braga tonight. Especially when even Braga's manager Domingos Paciência called it as the biggest match in their history.
Benfica Vs Porto: A Chance For Jorge Jesus' Men To Spoil The Villas-Boas Party
The Portugal Cup clash between Benfica and Porto later tonight represents a perfect chance for the Aguias to destroy Porto's treble hopes.
Nothing can be as thrilling as lifting the League Title at the fortress of your arch-rivals, just like FC Porto did to the expense of Benfica two weeks ago, Andre Villas-Boas made history on that day as his side left a very 'dark' Estadio da Luz with the satisfaction of heaping more misery on their closest rival.
Villas-Boas has been a definite success with FC Porto in a season that has seen them go unbeaten in the league so far, and they are also looking absolutely lethal in the Europe League as well. Meanwhile, Benfica have had a mixed season so far, having to deal with the agony of losing out on their title bid although they too have been impressive in the Europa League.
Benfica Vs PSV Eindhoven: Águias Must Not Miss Chance For Redemption
Benfica are in a delicate situation ahead of their Europa League tie against PSV after being disorientated in front of their own fans last weekend.
Having been outplayed by a triumphant Porto side last weekend, Benfica will automatically turn their attentions and focus towards the Europa League tie against PSV Eindhoven, mainly because this is their one and only chance to salvage or perhaps rescue a dismal season.Jorge Jesus now has a huge task on his hand, to re-group his players ahead of their all-important first leg match against the Dutch side. Co-incidentally, PSV are also not having the best of their times having surrendered top spot in the Eredivise last weekend.
However, Fred Rutten believes that Benfica have a weak link in their defenses and insisted that his team would be going all out to exploit that weakness.
Benfica Vs Porto: Can The Dragões Add Salt To Benfica's Wounds?
As two teams with massive history get set to take on each other, nothing less can be expected from a fascinating encounter with Porto aiming to clinch the Liga Sagres in their rivals fortress this Sunday.
The stage has been set for Andre Villas-Boas to make history with Porto this Sunday. Benfica will host FC Porto at Estádio da Luz, knowing that a defeat could be a massive disaster for the fans of the Águias. FC Porto will clinch the Liga Sagres title if they beat Benfica on Sunday- it's as simple as that.An encounter between these two teams is always something to look forward to considering that great rivalry and history between these two Portuguese giants. But this Sunday will see a new dimension being added to this encounter as Benfica will be going all out to avoid the twinge of seeing the rivals clinch the title in front of their own fans.
Both teams have faced each other twice already this season with each winning one of them. However, the significant 5-0 defeat to Porto last November will definitely be strongly attached to any ideas of revenge that comes within Jorge Jesus' squad.
Sporting Lisbon vs Benfica: Big Gap Against Porto Means We Can’t Fail – Jorge Jesus
The big gap that exists between FC Porto and Benfica at the top of the Portuguese Liga explains that the Eagles can’t fail in Monday’s Derby de Lisboa. Coach Jorge Jesus is aware of that...
“We cannot fail,” said Benfica’s coach according to Portuguese media website Abola.pt.“A derby is always a derby and the league’s table standings isn’t very important.
“However, the 12-points advantage that we have over Sporting give us some peace of mind. In my opinion, there’s no way Sporting can finish first or second [in the Portuguese Liga].
“The responsibility and pressure is more on us, Benfica, than on Sporting. The reason is that we have something at stake – the first position in the league.”
Porto vs Benfica: Jesus Promises Positive Approach At The Dragão
Benfica are going at the Dragão to face Porto filled with confidence. The Eagles’ performance in this Portugal Cup match will be nothing like the one that saw them lose 5-0 against their rivals.
Wednesday’s cup match between Porto and Benfica is just moments away from taking place. As the heat keeps rising, pre-match talks continue to make the headlines. Coach Jorge Jesus has been saying a lot. In one of his latest interviews, the manager promised fans that the Benfica side which will affront Porto at the Estadio do Dragão will be inspired with confidence. “You can expect the confident and determined Benfica that you’ve been seeing recently. But, we will respect our opponent. It is a two-legged tie, so a win will guarantee us ahead of the second match.
“I would say that victories boost the moral and the confidence of a team. I think that the team that wins [on Wednesday] won’t automatically win the tie, but it will gain a huge moral boost.”
Porto vs Benfica: Coach Jesus Confident Ahead Of Portugal Cup Semis
On Wednesday, there will be nothing more exciting in Portugal than the Porto vs Benfica cup match. The Estadio do Dragao will be put to flames and Coach Jorge Jesus is ready to take the heat.
A 5-0 trouncing is what Benfica suffered in their last visit to Porto but this doesn’t scare Jorge Jesus ahead of this week’s semi-final clash in the Portugal Cup. Record books recall that Benfica successfully trashed their rivals 3-0 in the final of the League Cup last year and this is the kind of positive results that the Eagles’ boss is eying to happen again.Benfica have actually grown in confidence and power since their heavy 5-0 defeat to Porto. They’ve gone to build a 100% record in their last 13 domestic matches; and this includes last week’s 2-0 win against Rio Ave in the quarter-finals of the Portugal Cup.
Champions League: Jesus Seeks Redemption Of Benfica Against Olympique Lyon
Benfica got stunned 2-0 away to Schalke on match-day two of the UEFA Champions League only to increase the pressure on themselves ahead of the Olympique Lyon clash.
The Portuguese side can’t take anything for granted in France tonight and their coach, Jorge Jesus, is fully aware of that. After slipping onto the third place in Group B, the manager wants Benfica to bounce back against Lyon.“We are here to win, just as we did against Marseille last season,” Jorge Jesus declared during the press conference ahead of the match.
“We will play our own game, but at the same time, we will keep an eye on their creative players such Yoann Gourcuff, Michel Bastos, Lisandro, and Jimmy Briand. I have watched them a lot.