Can Benfica beat Olhanense and regain the top spot in the Portuguese League conditionally, putting pressure on FC Porto?
With a busy schedule in the next few weeks, playing 6 matches in only 20 days, Benfica face another challenge travelling to Olhão in the south of Portugal. Algarve is a lucky region for the Eagles who have encountered happy moments there.
Last Tuesday, in the Portuguese League Cup semi-final, Benfica had a sweet taste of revenge after a tough 3-2 win over FC Porto saw them reach the final for the fourth time in a row in five editions of this recent Portuguese competition.
Second-placed Benfica will have only 72 hours to rest from the classic match against the Dragons. They will meet seventh-placed Olhanense on Friday trying not to show any sign of fatigue.
Benfica coach Jorge Jesus has made a slight change in the team’s starting XI. He previously gave Oscar Cardozo a rest. The striker will probably be back in action to complete Jesus’ favourite starting line-up for this away match.
With only 7 matches to go until the end of the league, there is little room for title contenders Benfica to commit errors. However, the Olhanense match is arguably the easiest on Benfica’s list of fixtures in the Portuguese Liga Sagres. Consequently, Jorge Jesus may offer some time on the pitch to fringe players and rather bench the key ones.
The Flying Eagles are just one point behind FC Porto. Victory over Olhanense on March 23 would fire them back to the top of the table on a temporary basis. Defeated Portuguese Taça da Liga semi-finalists FC Porto will only be in action two days later against Paços de Ferreira.
Seventh-placed Olhanense, coached by former Portuguese international Sérgio Conceição, are not yet safe from relegation. They’d certainly welcome even a point from their challenge at home to Benfica.
Olhanense are seen as the overachieving team this season. For example, they haven’t conceded a single goal to boogeymen Sporting and FC Porto. Expect Friday’s battle to be hard for both sides.
In addition, there will be a few absences due to suspensions. For Olhanense, three players will miss this match. Central defender André Pinto and striker Wilson Eduardo have completed a series of five yellow cards, while midfielder Cauê saw red in the last game. For Benfica, only midfielder Bruno César will stay in Lisbon.
Last Tuesday, in the Portuguese League Cup semi-final, Benfica had a sweet taste of revenge after a tough 3-2 win over FC Porto saw them reach the final for the fourth time in a row in five editions of this recent Portuguese competition.
Second-placed Benfica will have only 72 hours to rest from the classic match against the Dragons. They will meet seventh-placed Olhanense on Friday trying not to show any sign of fatigue.
Benfica coach Jorge Jesus has made a slight change in the team’s starting XI. He previously gave Oscar Cardozo a rest. The striker will probably be back in action to complete Jesus’ favourite starting line-up for this away match.
With only 7 matches to go until the end of the league, there is little room for title contenders Benfica to commit errors. However, the Olhanense match is arguably the easiest on Benfica’s list of fixtures in the Portuguese Liga Sagres. Consequently, Jorge Jesus may offer some time on the pitch to fringe players and rather bench the key ones.
The Flying Eagles are just one point behind FC Porto. Victory over Olhanense on March 23 would fire them back to the top of the table on a temporary basis. Defeated Portuguese Taça da Liga semi-finalists FC Porto will only be in action two days later against Paços de Ferreira.
Seventh-placed Olhanense, coached by former Portuguese international Sérgio Conceição, are not yet safe from relegation. They’d certainly welcome even a point from their challenge at home to Benfica.
Olhanense are seen as the overachieving team this season. For example, they haven’t conceded a single goal to boogeymen Sporting and FC Porto. Expect Friday’s battle to be hard for both sides.
In addition, there will be a few absences due to suspensions. For Olhanense, three players will miss this match. Central defender André Pinto and striker Wilson Eduardo have completed a series of five yellow cards, while midfielder Cauê saw red in the last game. For Benfica, only midfielder Bruno César will stay in Lisbon.
