CL Qualifier Preview: FC Copenhagen - SL Benfica
What: Champions League Third Qualifying Round (Second Leg)
Who: FC København (4th Danish Superliga, 12 pts) v SL Benfica (7th Bwin Liga, 2 pts)
When: Wednesday, 29th August, Kick-off: 2045 local (Copenhagen)
Where: Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark
Background
It’s the second leg of the third round tie and the second season in a row that the Portuguese and Danish sides clash in the Champions League, this time a place in the Group Phase at stake.
The first leg ended with a slight edge for the Portuguese
Águias (Eagles) Benfica thanks to a Rui Costa brace that clawed in a win.
Danish
Løverne (Lions) FC København did cause the feathers to fly, however, as Canadian midfielder Atiba Hutchinson levelled things off after the first Rui Costa strike.
The slim advantage means that the second leg is bound to be fertile ground for the Danes to plant the seeds of hope that they can make it through to the group stage instead of the UEFA Cup.
That’s assuming they are capable of drawing Benfica blood at the Parken: a repeat of last year’s goalless draw at the same venue simply won’t be enough.
With the all-important Hutchinson strike from the da Luz first leg the away goal rule will be key to a potential classification for the Champions League proper.
A 1-0 will see the hosts through although, conversely a 0-1 will see Benfica take the cake and FC Copenhagen get the booby prize: a place in the Champions League's less lucrative little brother.
The stadium is expected to be packed for tomorrow’s decider with home fans eager to egg their team on and Portuguese visitors and ex-pats wanting to voice their support too.
The
Løvernes Hule (Lions' Den) holds over 42,000 spectators but, for security reasons, only 40,000 tickets are expected to be on sale according to recent reports.
Of these between 2,000 and 3,000 of the seats are expected to be occupied by Benfica supporters, a mix of those making the trip from Portugal and those working in Copenhagen.
First Leg Line-Ups
BENFICA (2): Quim; David Luiz, Luisão (Adu 37), Leo, Luis Filipe; Petit, Rui Costa, Katsouranis, Assis (Nuno Gomes 74); Cardozo, Bergessio (Fabio Coentrão 46)
FC COPENHAGEN (1): Christiansen; Silberbauer, Gravgaard, Hangeland, Jensen; Norregaard (Sionko 89), Kvist, Wurtz, Hutchinson, Gronkjaer; Allbäck (Nordstrand 78)
Team News
FC COPENHAGEN
Ex-Benfica and FC Copenhagen idol Manniche (not to be confused with Maniche the 29 year-old Atlético de Madrid and Portugal midfielder who was named after him) sees the fixture as a close-run thing, but the hosts having a good chance.
Having played for Benfica from 1983 to 1987 and FC København from 1992 to 1994 before a short pre-retirement stint as assistant manager-cum-player in 1996, Copenhagen-born Manniche is in a good position to speak about both sides.
“It’s best for us to face Benfica this time around, when things aren’t going so well for them, than last year when they were doing better in comparison”, he explained from the standpoint of his current employers.
Nevertheless the man who is considered a Benfica living legend did stress that “Benfica do have a great retrospective in Europe and for that reason could be considered favourites”, he explained to the Portuguese press.
“We don’t have a Rui Costa or a Nuno Gomes but we do have a good team”, he added, noting that Solbakken’s men “could make the difference with aerial attacks if Luisão doesn’t play.”
Manniche pointed out that Benfica "were lucky in many ways to get the win at da Luz and I really think we have an excellent chance of going through if we can avoid letting any goals in and take advantage of any nerves on the Benfica side."
Goalkeeper Christiansen will be the focus of attention as he’s charged with the complicated mission of keeping a clean sheet at all costs. After suffering twice from Rui Costa’s refined nose for goal in the first leg, he knows where the danger is.
“Benfica has many good players but Rui Costa is capable of both creating and ending a move at any time during a match”, the keeper said, praising the man whose first leg brace resulted in victory for the Portuguese giants.
“They are a good side with a solid defence, but I have faith in our capabilities and am sure that we can make it through their back four and score.” In front he can count on being shielded by Texas-born Norwegian number 5 Brede Hangeland.
The towering back has been linked with a move to the EPL yet again, Bolton and Newcastle apparently eager to sign him, but the player has denied that he has anything in mind except doing the best for The Lions – including beating Benfica.
The defence is set to be tested but has held fast in the past two matches that FC Copenhagen have played in the Danish SAS League. The opponents were two of the other top clubs in Denmark: FC Midtjylland and OB and both matches ended in 0-0 stalemates with Jesper Christiansen on good form.
Coach Ståle Solbakken told FC Copenhagen’s official website that his game-plan is ready – even a plan B and C if A doesn’t work out, and the tactician sees the home support as being a potentially decisive factor whatever the on-pitch tactics.
Last year’s face-off saw the legs reversed and Benfica were able to capitalise on their home support, but now the ball’s firmly in the Danish court and it shouldn’t be forgotten that both Manchester United and Celtic were downed at the Parken.
Jesper Gronkjaer will sit the decider out via suspension and the forward’s absence could weaken the Lions’ attack which will probably have to rely on the unproductive pairing of Allbäck and Nordstrand: the latter’s aim conspicuously off of late.
There is a possibility that Brazilian number 7 Aílton Almeida may get a starting nod as he did against Odense BK, coming off for Nordstrand in the 64th minute, but Solbakken is refusing to name names just yet. The last line up was:
FC COPENHAGEN (4-4-2): Christiansen; Kvist, Gravgaard (Captain), Hangeland, Jensen; Silberbauer, Norregaard, Würtz (Sionko) and Hutchinson; Gronkjaer and Almeida (Nordstrand)
SL BENFICA
The last two weeks have been tumultuous at the
Águias, Fernando Santos being sacked after a lacklustre Bwin Liga debut. The 1-1 draw against modest minnows Leixões was the final nail in the tactician’s coffin.
Ex-Spain Coach José Antonio Camacho has been brought in to try to stop the rot before Benfica end yet another season without silverware, although the Spaniard also lucked out in his home debut this weekend with a goalless draw against Vitoria de Guimarães.
Given what he’s seen, after landing in rainy Copenhagen Camacho has little doubt that Wednesday’s match will be a watershed for Benfica. “We have the obligation to score here because the result [from the first leg] is too narrow a margin.”
“In the BWin league there’s room for error and correction but that doesn’t exist in the Champions League, especially in knockout rounds”, he warned. “The Danish have a certain style and although we drew here last year both teams are very different.”
He added that the injury that is said to be sidelining Katsouranis wasn’t a big worry and that he’s still not certain if a Luisão who’s getting back to match fitness after a recent spell in dry dock will play, but did add that “I won’t be making many changes.”
The three recent South American signings (Uruguayans Cristian Rodríguez and Maxi Pereira and Brazilian Edcarlos) won’t be present in Camacho’s squad for the clash and are expected to stay in Portugal to tie up the loose ends on their respective contracts.
Recent Argentine signing Angel Di María has shrugged off the injury hassles he picked up in the pre-Camacho pre-season and is ready to muck in – if given a chance. “I’m ready and willing and will do whatever the Coach wants to help Benfica.”
Camacho has changed his list from the weekend game against Guimarães by including Luisão, Di María and Dabao and cutting Andrés Díaz:
Goalkeepers: Quim and Butt
Defenders: Luís Filipe, Nélson, Luisão, Miguel Vítor, Léo and Miguelito
Midfielders: Katsouranis, Petit, Rui Costa, Nuno Assis, Freddy Adu, Romeu Ribeiro and Fábio Coentrão
Forwards: Cardozo, Bergessio, Nuno Gomes, Di María and Dabao.
It remains to be seen how Camacho will play it as the tactician is holding his cards close to his chest, but the smart money will be on a counter-attacking game that aims to use speed to unravel the Danish defence and bring the bacon home for Benfica.
The most recent line-up – and the only one used by Camacho so far – is shown below but both Katsouranis and Luisão are borderline. The only training session is scheduled for 19:00 tonight and should clarify both players' states as well as Camacho's ideas.
BENFICA (4-4-2): Quim, Nelson, Katsouranis, Miguel Vítor and Léo; Petit, Rui Costa, Fábio Coentrão (Luís Filipe, 72), Nuno Assis (Romeu Ribeiro, 70), Nuno Gomes and Cardozo (Bergessio, 80).
Goal.com - Champions League - CL Qualifier Preview: FC Copenhagen - SL Benfica
La Liga 2007/2008 | Campeonato | Day 2
Originally Posted by tribalfooball.com
e-mail
Print
