UEFA Cup opponent: RC Lens

RC Lens (FRA) v FC København (DEN)

Sources: uefa.com - UEFA Cup, Fortune smiles on English sides - Yahoo! Eurosport.

RC Lens has an impressive UEFA coefficient of 51.706 - compare that to Benfica's 67.149. This season's Le Championnat results have so far been less than impressive though: Bordeaux-Lens 1-0, Lens-Paris SG 0-0, Lens-Valenciennes 0-0 and Strasbourg-Lens 2-1. Probably in part because they focused on their international games: In the second qualifying round for the UEFA Cup they defeated Young Boys 5-1 (uefa.com - Lens ensure dream start for Papin). Yes, Jean-Pierre Papin is their coach. Interesting.

Goodbye Champions League. Hello UEFA Cup

SL Benfica stood firm in the face of a tide of pressure from FC København as Kostas Katsouranis' first-half goal proved enough to secure a 3-1 aggregate victory for the Portuguese outfit, and a place in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Source: uefa.com - Battling Benfica deny København.

The hosts had started best, chalking up several chances in the first 15 minutes and looked the stronger team for much of the match but failed to convert their opportunities into goals.

Source: ESPNsoccernet - FC Copenhagen v Benfica Report

Shots at goal statistic: about 8 against 2. Unbelievable. On top of that, ref Eric 'Ajax loverboy' Braamhaar, missed calling the most obvious penalty I remember seeing. Some swift short passing brought Allbäck in a position clear for finishing but his man marker didn't hesitate kicking right at his supporting leg. If that wasn't a penalty, torture, maiming or otherwise violating a Geneva Convention is needed for one.

Luckily, Mr. Braamhaar didn't miss the opportunity to hand out a yellow card to Atiba Hutchinson for stating the obvious. And since when is blatantly handballing to deflect a mega-chance not a red card offense? OK, that might have been a tough call, but seriously. Silberbauer, I believe it was, was denied an enormous chance later in the game. Gee, I'm so sorry Braamhaar's Ajax also left the tournament 1-3 yesterday.

Good luck to Benfica.

Atiba Hutchinson interview

The official FC København webpage has published a short video of two very short interviews with Hjalte Nørregaard (in Danish) and Atiba Hutchinson talking about their expectations and the team tactics for tomorrow's game against Benfica.




...and contrary to what they try to make you believe the video does not require Windows Media Player ;-) But just click the image and watch the video.

Benfica home preview

The 1^st leg away was a 2-1 defeat to Benfica. A loss but not too bad. While FC København hasn't exactly impressed since then, Benfica seems to have gotten into a bit of trouble: Star players leaving, most defenders injured, new coach and who knows what else. Yesterday Pedro Mantorras was ruled out for months due to a knee injury. José Camacho hasn't promised anyone a win - actually his latest comments look more like preemptive excuses.

Benfica's squad: Goalies: Butt and Quim, defenders: Luis Felipe, Luisao, Leo, Miguelito, Nelson and Miguel Vitor, midfielders: Petit, Katsouranis, Fabio Coentrao, Di Maria, Adu, Nuno Assis, Rui Costa and Romeu Ribeiro, strikers: Cardozo, Bergessio, Yu Dabao and Nuno Gomes.

FC København's squad: Strongest possible selection except Jesper Grønkjær is suspended. No important players injured and some even rested during this weekend's league game.

Approximate outcome probabilities: Home win: 40%, draw: 30%, away win: 30%. To progress for Champions League group phase: FC København 35%, Benfica 65%.

Once the ball gets rolling all of the above will be forgotten and the game sensed from my season ticket seat. But I'll be prepared for UEFA Cup games only after this one, sure.

0-0

OB - FC København 0-0

...

Benfica - Guimaraes 0-0

It’s going to take more than just a few training sessions to set Benfica back on the right track [...] Before the match returning tactician José Antonio Camacho reaffirmed his confidence and repeated his trust in budding star centre-back Miguel Vítor. The defender earned widespread applause with his solid work in defusing a slew of attacks by the visitors while the bulk of incisive attacking came from the boots of veteran number 10 Rui Costa and Under-21 man Fábio Coentrão [...] Nuno Gomes missed a great chance early on as the number 21 slapped a shot wide of Nilson’s sticks after being well set up by Paraguayan import Cardozo. Quim was solid for Benfica whenever called on.

Source: Goal.com - Camacho Unable To Reap Immediate Reward At Benfica

OB and Guimaraes (Vitória Guimarães) were this weekend's league opposition for København and Benfica respectively. Guimaraes has an UEFA coefficient of 15.913, OB 12.51. On last season's 'Computertabelle' at Kicker.de Benfica ranked 20, FC København 78, OB 89 and Guimaraes outside top 100. Qualified opponents for both teams to warm up for Wednesday with.

Camacho speaks

Camacho has until Wednesday to prepare his new team for their crucial return trip to Copenhagen following a weekend meeting with Vitória SC. "According to the chairman and the other coaches, the team needs more players and I cannot implement my philosophy in just one day," warned Camacho. "The team will have to work very hard [to beat København]. I need to get to know them 100 per cent but we will be a competitive side."

Source: uefa.com - Magazine / Camacho's rescue mission

The Anderson deal is now reality. Benfica is currently looking at Borja Oubiña in Celta de Vigo (Source: El fichaje de Oubiña por el Benfica, en punto muerto - Marca.com) and Maximiliano Pereira in Defensor Sporting (Source: Benfica tenta contratar médio uruguaio do Defensor Sporting) - but we don't care who they buy now.