Despite currently being on a six match winning streak and being unbeaten in the league since February 5th, Benfica unfortunately aren't likely to win the Primeira Liga title this season. The Eagles, who have 57 points, currently sit in third spot, which is nine points behind league leaders Sporting CP.
However, Jorge Jesus's side still can win at least one trophy this season: the Taca de Portugal, as Benfica will be in action against Braga in this year's final on May 23rd.
In the meantime, the Portuguese giants have been quite active on the business end of things. Last month, we revealed that Benfica had signed an exclusive deal with American entertainment agency WME Sports to help them find sponsors for the famous Estádio da Luz. The Eagles, clearly looking at other European teams like Juventus and Bayern who are making money off selling naming rights to their venues, are seeking to emulate this model as it would help bring in additional revenue streams for the club.
That's not the only exciting thing on the horizon for Portugal's most decorated side. Once fans are able to return to the 65,000 seater venue - hopefully sooner rather than later - they'll be treated to an experience unlike any other in the country.
Thanks to Benfica's exclusive partnership with mobile communications partner NOS, Benfica supporters will be able to gain access to carefully curated content that's provided by 5G as well as both augmented reality (AR) and the more-commonly known virtual reality (VR). As a result, fans will gain really innovative benefits such as being able to select from which angle they'd like to follow a game, seeing stats from the match and players in real time, transmitting high-def (HD) video and accessing cameras used during transmission broadcasts.
The 5G technology isn't also going to just benefit fans - it will also help to boost the team's performance as well. Namely, the NOS 5G networks will hope to further streamline and improve Benfica's technical operations to assist in better assessment of player's performances by making it easier for coaches and their relevant staff members to be able to gather data and conduct more efficient statistical analyses to be able to properly formulate tactics ahead of practice sessions, and subsequently, matches.
Benfica will become the first team in Portugal to implement 5G networks at its stadium, and it's clearly something that the club and their partners at NOS are very excited about, as Rui Costa, Benfica's VP, recently noted:
"This is a game-changing project, [as] this new technology will bring Benfica even closer to its fans and supporters. It means an improved experience in this stadium, for all our supporters and for Benfica as an organisation".
