Benfica will welcome Vitória SC to the Estádio da Luz on Sunday evening as the minhotos try to get back on track, and the encarnados look to build some momentum.
With Pepa in charge of the Vimarenenses this season, expectations were high, but things haven’t gone as well as one would have expected. Having won all six of their preseason matches, it’s been a rollercoaster of results when it comes to official matches.
Currently sixth in the league standings with 30 points, the truth is that Pepa’s men are closer to the relegation zone (nine points) than they are from fifth place (10 points), which Gil Vicente occupies.
They enter this match off the back of two successive defeats in the league and three defeats from their last five.
When these two sides met for the league in September, Jorge Jesus’ men came away with a 1-3 win. This time around, despite the personnel on the pitch for the àguias mainly being the same, their tactical approach has changed under Nelson Veríssimo.
A four-man defensive line is different than what Benfica deployed in September. Still, on top of that, Veríssimo finds himself forced to make changes seeing as Weigl and Otamendi are unavailable due to suspension.
Finding a replacement for the Argentinian central defender is more manageable, with Morato or even Tomás Araujo capable of filling that void. The idea of two left-footed central defenders can be a concern for Nelson Veríssimo, especially since we’ve seen the Brazilian defender struggle at times on the right side.
Will they move Vertonghen to the right, or will Araujo be the best-suited option? Let’s also not forget that Veríssimo, having been part of the youth squads, is very familiar with both, so who will be chosen?
Replacing Weigl is where things get tricky.
The German midfielder is already playing an adapted role, seeing as he’s not necessarily a proper defensive midfielder, but Benfica doesn’t have an adequate replacement in the squad.
Meite was the original plan to replace Weigl in that more defensive role, yet Veríssimo has publicly stated that he sees the French midfielder as a more advanced player. Could the limited options force Veríssimo’s hand?
Off the back of a hard-fought draw on Wednesday against Ajax, Benfica can undoubtedly take positives from the result and the performance.
By the time this match kicks off, the encarnados could find themselves nine points back of their same city rivals, as they take on Marítimo on Saturday evening.
Regardless of that result, Benfica has to desperately gain some momentum for what’s left of the domestic campaign if they want to have any chance of stealing second place and subsequent automatic qualification for next season’s Champions League.
