la decima all the goals

Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1

All the goals, champions league final

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Weldon on his way

Brazilian forward Weldon could return to Brazil this summer, after failing to feature in Jorge Jesus plans.

The Benfica man has been at the club since 2009 has rarely featured in the squad, having only played 12 games and scored only 5 goals.



But he seems to be receiving interest from three major Brazilian clubs, with Vasco da Gama, Corithians and Palmeiras all looking for his signature.

Since Weldon is out of contract in the summer, it seem very unlikely Benfica will offer to renew it.

Benfica v Portimonense preview

Benfica v Portimonense

Jorge Jesus has taken a gamble in the selection for the game versus Portimonense.

In what seems like a chance to rest some of the players for the coming European game against PSG in France on Thursday.

First choice keeper Roberto has been rested alongside Fabio Coentrao and Carlos Martins was also allowed to stay home (or watch from the stands).

Jesus has drafted in Jose Fernadez and Airton (should he recover from a mild illness) with Carole the young French left back included in the squad.

With Luisao, Maxi Pereira and Javi Garcia all suspended for the game, Jesus will have to reshuffle the defence whilst giving some players their much needed rest.

Although Benfica will host the team that currently is bottom if the league, Jorge Jesus has promised that the team has the responsibility to win the game, with Portimonense looking to climb off the foot of the table.

The Mister has also expressed his delight at the call up of Salvio and Gaitan into the Argentina for two friendly games.

Guarda-redes: Moreira e & Júlio César.
Defwnders: Luís Filipe, Sidnei, Jardel, Carole, César Peixoto, Roderick.
Midfielders: Fernández, Airton, Felipe Menezes, Nico Gaitán, Aimar, Salvio.
Forwards: Saviola, Cardozo, Weldon, Nuno Gomes Alan Kardec, Franco Jara.

I myself will see that victory happen live from my streaming computer, in my London pad;

Benfica v Portimonense
13th March 2011, KO 20:15

Braga 2 v Benfica 1

Golf balls and off the bench refereeing decisions,

Benfica have lost their first match in a long while, it came at the hands of SC Braga and at a time when Benfica needed the three points to keep the pressure on FC Porto.

From the off Benfica seemed a team capable of getting a good result, but Braga had other intentions, throwing it all at Benfica.

On the 24th minute Saviola made it 1-0 when a free kick from Carlos Martins was badly handed by Artur, Saviola pounced to score.

The key moment for Braga’s game came on the 40th minute, when Javi Garcia was sent off after Alan fell to the floor claiming to have been punched in the throat, and with the Braga bench and officials all in agreement (and probably one made before the game) saw the red card routinely raised by Xistra. The resulting free kick from the side line saw Hugo Viana lob Roberto whom was way off his line.

The crowd egged on by the stadium announcer lost all control, and on a dry night, it seemed to rain golf balls and coins, many hitting Benfica players.

Benfica took to the pitch in the second half, with Saviola coming off and Airton coming in.

It seemed most attacks created Benfica just could not find the opening needed.

When the chances finally came, Cardozo and Coentrao were the two players who danced in front of goal but failed to convert.

Mossoro then ended Benfica’s night with a sweet right footer that again went over Roberto to make it 2-1.

In a finally summary: The game was played from the bench onwards, Braga had all intentions to get a result here, and pretty obvious from the crowd’s handling of Golf Balls, bad refereeing and play acting.. With Benfica also having a perfectly good goal disallowed for offside.

SC Braga v SL Benfica match review

Benfica take on Braga today in week 22 of the Liga ZON Sagres.

With FC Porto opening up a whooping eleven point gap having beaten Vitoria Guimaraes on Saturday night, the pressure is on Benfica to get all 3 points against an inform Europa League Braga team.

Jorge Jesus has called up 20 players to travel north for the game. With Pablo Aimar injured and Nico Gaitan not looking at his best physically, Jesus has brought in Cesar Peixoto, Airton and Jose Fernandez to cover all fronts.

The manager claims there are no pressures to get all three points, but at the same time he has made sure that all players in the squad are at their peak in terms of fitness and mental awareness.
With all said, Jesus should gamble on the full eleven that started the match Vs Sporting in the midweek cup victory.
On the Braga front, the team is doing well in Europe but seem to be struggling in the domestic league, placed a lowly 8th compared to last season’s second place, and with a game against Liverpool midweek, they might focus on their strengths.

Benfica Voted best club in the world by (IFFHS)

Benfica has been recognized as the best club in the world by the International Federation of Football History & Statistic (IFFHS)

The website writes:
"The World Club Team of the Month for February is Sport Lisboa e Benfica ahead of AFC Ajax Amsterdam. In February the Portuguese won all their matches in the national league, the national FA Cup and in the Europa League."

Benfica have won 18 out of their last 18 games and have merited this award.
Benfica ahve also had their ground almost full for their last 3 home matches. (not relevant but worth a mention)

For the full Article click here and read about the Glorioso's rise and ranking.

Fabio Coentrao's goal

A beautiful goal from our kid Fabio.. a true star.. a natural left footed player, he struck that ball so well in the dying seconds of added on time.

Benfica Travelling Support

A few videos of the Benfica fan base.

Many of the videos are amateur and recorded on phones, but giving you an idea of how well supported Benfica are, they arethe only club able to fill the stadium of the opposing team, completly out Numbering the home Supporters.

Benfica has three main support groups, the eldest being the Diabos Vermelhos (Red Devils) created in 1982, the second major and with more notoriou following is the No Name Boys created in 1992, and consider themselves as the major movement in Portuguese football. The third is a group called Grupo Manks, created in 1996, the Manks are a split away group from the Non Name Boys.

Benfica win the league at the Bessa Stadium home of Boavist in 2005, the entire ground is RED




Benfica playing at the City Of Coimbra Stadium, Against Academica, the sea of RED

Belem Stadium, the home of Belenenses the invasion of RED continues

This is another away game at the City of Leiria Stadium, the RED is clear to see and hear.

Even in Futsal the biggest following is RED in th video below, Benfica won the European Futsal

Benfica's Eagle

THE EAGLE

E PLURIBUS UNUM

Aguia Vitoria as she is known, is SL Benfica's mascot who also have the nickname if 'Red Eagles'
This Imperial Iberian Eagle will fly before every home game at Estadio da Luz.
You wont find the Sporting Lion roaring around the stadium or a Dragon of FC Porto breathing fire around the Dragao.
This eagle makes most visiting teams hairs stand, and to this day even the regulars still get goose bumps.

Football in the mix

Are English football clubs offering enough?

Barcelona play Hockey??

Along with many other countries football clubs in Portugal are a lot more than just a football club.

In some countries in Europe sport is taken as part of an organisation, in Portugal from the major clubs to the lower clubs, social activities and a community feel is given from most clubs.

Lacal club offers handball.

People will notice that Sporting not only grows majority of Portugal's best players but they also turn out a lot of good runners and Portuguese Cycling is made up of mostly Sporting cyclists.

Sporting's Obikwelo 100 meters runner

SL Benfica and FC Porto have great European roller skating hockey teams from both youth and adults.

There is also Andebol (handball) which is one of the most viewed and covered sport after football, and obviously Futebol de Salao is highly followed.

Benfica Hockey

Stadiums from the smaller clubs to the biggest always have a sports complex next to them, or they offer it in the stadium as was the case at Estadio da Luz prior but now it’s at a pavilion next to the ground.

The smaller clubs are able to offer football plus another sport.  It just means that their presence in the community is strong and they are able to accommodate everyone’s preference of sport.


Almost all clubs have a pavilion

Around Europe and the World great teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Roma, CSKA Moscow offer a different sport and are openly involved in more projects then just football.



Flamengo Swimmer

Around England, the stadia’s and areas of football grounds are deserted or used as tour for clubs to make money, the grounds seem to be a fortress with flat greying walls, shut doors and only a tour guide door and a couple of offices open for the director of football if he does not happen to be at the training ground.

I have long believed that not a lot more then football is offered but organisations that make millions of pounds and also pay out millions.

We have cricket in season by some counties who struggle to make ends meet, ladies hockey is popular but again the struggle to get a spot at a local astro-turf, or for funding and recognition is amazingly high. The Basketball league is considerably famous in England but couldn't the competition be between a Spurs vs Arsenal sometimes?

I am not saying that there should be total dominance by major clubs, but what about lower clubs being given the grants to maybe start one of these projects?

"Redbridge FC opens door to local basketball team"

Barcelona vs Real Madrid

One team I know in London are offering this, Kingsbury London Tigers offer Basketball, Badminton, Athletics etc.. Tigers have organisations stretching from Redbridge to Westminster and seem to do well in their first team in the Spartan Premier Division.  From when I first heard of Tigers they were a local youth side who offered a few sports to local youngsters, I understand they have partnered old Kingsbury Town FC.

There might be a few organisations out there offering the same but how many are offered by clubs at a level seen in Europe and around the world whilst the king sport is football.

How could we go about trying to change this? Can bigger clubs follow suit and start other projects then football?

Benfica Futebol de Salao

Although Project such as reading, Kick It Out, Community in the school’s football is great, do all kids actually want to play football? What if John is a basketball fan, what if he was more suited to hockey?

Although I understand that these sports are offered individually but independent organisations who often struggle, What costs to pay for one players, one week wage costs to run some of the of these sports for a year, and with a bit more investment I am sure a lot more kids would benefit from being associated with clubs be it Major or Non League.

FC Porto