CL Qualifying Preview: SL Benfica - FC Copenhagen
Where: Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal

When: Tuesday 14/08/07, 21:15

What: Champions League Third Qualifying Round (First Leg): Sport e Lisboa Benfica - FC København

Referee: Viktor Kassai (Austria)

Background
 
It’s a case of déjà vu in the Portuguese capital as Benfica attempt to bring home the bacon with a win against the great Danes.  The last time the two sides met at the same venue dates back to the 21st of November 2006 and the Encarnado hosts carried the day with a win.  That time around it was a second leg decider after the first game ended goalless in the Danish capital.

Since then the panorama has shifted slightly although the smart money is still on a defeat for Løverne (The Lions) despite the downing of a rather stumpy first hurdle in the shape of an amorphous Beitar Jerusalem.   Benfica may have lost two key players in the shape of Simão and Miccoli, but the Águias are ready to make another swoop for the European glory they once dated but now just flirt with.

The Portuguese greats have added attacking reinforcements to sharpen their clipped talons and remain odds on faves to take the day given both the home edge and a superior squad.  Nevertheless, Coach Fernando Santos has yet to find exactly the right recipe to get Benfica faithful salivating with anticipation and there are those wary of an upset if Goliath doesn’t take care against the visiting David.

Team News

SL BENFICA

The home side have good news up front as both Óscar Cardozo – the Paraguayan being the most expensive signing ever for the Lisbon side – and local hero Nuno Gomes have shrugged off respective injury worries to make it into the call-up list.  Cardozo has the better chance of seeing action as the number 21 is still a long way from re-attaining match fitness

Quim is an almost dead cert in goal as new arrival Butt hasn’t managed to win over Fernando Santos yet and the back four look more or less set out with the exception of the wings where  Nélson may be sold to Sevilla and thus Luís Filipe has his chances.  On the left-hand side family-strife-stricken Brazilian Léo may make way for Miguelito.

Midfield should see Petit and Katsouranis doubling up on the holding side as Manuel Fernandes is close to sealing a 9 million Euro deal with Everton.  Further up field things should rest with the age-schizophrenic combo of Fábio Coentrão and Rui Costa, although Freddy Adu may well be given a chance to put his money where his mouth is and show that he’s capable of leading a midfield at absolute European level.

Santos himself is feeling “Very confident…although we are well aware that these days there are no easy games.  We respect the adversary but will go in strong as we are on home ground.  We know FC Copenhagen well at both individual and collective levels…the Coach is the same and the philosophy and model are also similar.”

“They are an opponent that is characterised by a cool-headed approach and have a very strong defence.  They have a straightforward attacking game with the emphasis on aerial play and like to take advantage of whiplash counter-attacks, but we know all of this and have prepared ourselves both mentally and physically to meet the challenge.”

FC COPENHAGEN

Visiting Coach Ståle Solbakken hopes that “We’ll have more luck than we had nine months ago”, he stressed, referring to the 3-1 defeat at Luz that saw the Danish side kicked out of the top European competition in last year’s Group F clash.  “We’re better prepared to put up a fair fight.  Benfica have a great home record but records are there to be broken.”

“We know they’ve lost Simão but that Cardozo who cost so much money should be wanting to repay his fee in goals”, he spiked, getting into the psych-out game, but less worried about the absence of Manuel Fernandes.  “He is a good player but they don’t have a lack of resources in midfield with Petit, Rui Costa, Assis and Katsouranis, although Fernandes is better at plugging gaps", he jabbed.

Jesper Gronkjaer was also keen to get revenge for last years defeat, although recognised that the hosts start off with an edge.   “You could say that this is a second chance for us but it’s a different kettle of fish as they are two different editions and this is a knockout round.  Benfica are favourites but I hope we can do our fans proud.

Marcus Allbäck was confident of a better showing this year as “we have learned things from last year and I hope we can come away with a good score for the second leg in Denmark.  We were killed then by a 2-0 after fifteen minutes”, stressed the 34 year-old veteran battler.

The Danes have a great white hope in the shape of Mads Laudrup; the latest in the Laudrup dynasty that has served Copenhagen – and world football – so wonderfully. “At times its is difficult to be the son of someone so great”, admitted the 18 year-old son of Michael Laudrup, but on the field that’s something that only onlookers think about and at home football is a taboo subject”, explained the youngster.

Possible First Elevens (Not Confirmed)
 
SL BENFICA (4-3-3): Quim; Nélson (Luís Filipe), Luisão, David Luiz, Léo (Miguelito); Petit, Katsouranis and Fábio Coentrão (Nuno Assis); Rui Costa (Freddy Adu), Bergessio and Cardozo (Mantorras).
Coach: Fernando Santos

FC COPENHAGEN (4-4-2):  Christensen; Kvist, Gravgaard, Hangeland and Jensen Silberbauer; Würtz, Nørregaard(Sionko) Atiba, Hutchinson (Mads Laudrup); Grønkjær and Allbäck

Coach: Ståle Solbakken

APM