Benfica-Gil Vicente: Eagle wants to take rooster to the Light in the race that has record

O Benfica receives this Thursday the meeting with Gil Vicente that defines the last club to be in the final four of the League Cup this season.

After a series of positive results, the eagles will want to continue and put themselves in the decisive phase of the competition that holds the largest number of trophies won.

However, on the other side is the technician who won the race last season, although with a Vitória SC that is not in this edition, having, along the way, left on the way FC Porto and Sporting.

The two teams have already faced each other this season, precisely at the Stadium of Light, with Benfica winning by 3-1 in a complicated twist. The eagles are in a series of nine consecutive victories before Gil Vicente in all competitions, and the last defeat of the incarnates arose in the Stadium of Light at the time 2021/22.

The match between Benfica and Gil Vicente has initial whistle scheduled for 8:45 this Thursday, at Estádio da Luz, in Lisbon, and will be judged by José Bessa, an referee of the Porto Football Association.

Coaches in direct speech

Marco Silva

Case Jhon Durán: “We have no decision. I did the analysis I did for the feedback I got from the player. I've already had access to the report and you've only confirmed my statements at the end of the game. Everything I read just came to make sure nothing happened. Fortunately I believed the player and that's my role, I want you to be honest, wrong or wrong. We all make mistakes in life. But you just came to confirm what I said. I'm very curious to understand what the decision will be after seeing what I saw and reading what was written. He is summoned for tomorrow.”

Clinical Bulletin: “Banjaqui is very close to being available, but it is still early. We'll make decisions in the next few days to figure out where you'll start competing. Enzo is gradually joining the team, which is good. Kaminski's back, and he'll be on call. And Leandro [Barreiro], you know, will take a little longer.”

What to expect from Gil Vicente: “A quality team, very well trained, as it has been demonstrating, that we have already faced a game that has become difficult for the quality and organization that the opponent demonstrated in the Stadium of Light. We played a great game that afternoon, and Gil made the task difficult, a fair but difficult victory, because they have quality players and well-planned strategy for opponents. It will be a different game, but it is a decision, in a game that gives a four ending, so it has some different connotations, but as we always approach the games to win, we will give everything to do so, a little in the image of what we have done against them already.”

Luís Pinto

The League Cup: “I think this competition should be played by all clubs. It shouldn’t be so restricted.”

Game in the Light: “We expect an extremely solid Benfica, as it has been over the years, and with a very great offensive quality. It will require our best level to compete and be able to pass this elimination. Let's go with as much ambition as possible. We want to reach the Stadium of Light and overcome this qualifier and stay in this competition.”

Ambition in proof: “We always believe that we can do things that can be marked in our lives. We must have humility to be very competent and realize that we will have a game of a huge demand.”

Last results

Benfica: V-V-V-D

Gil VicenteD-V-V-V-E

Last elevens

Benfica: Samuel Soares, Alexander Bah, Clément Lenglet, Tomás Araújo, Samuel Dahl, João Palhinha, Fredrik Aursnes, Rafa Silva, Georgiy Sudakov, Gianluca Prestianni, Vangelis Pavlidis.

Gil Vicente: Lucão, Ricardo Esgaio, Jonathan Buatu, Marvin Elimbi, David Moreira, Andreas Lausen, Diogo Priore, Murilo Souza, Santi García, Joelson Fernandes, Walace France.

Absence

Benfica: Daniel Banjaqui, Leandro Barreiro, Jaden Umeh and Enzo Barrenenchea (damaged).

Gil Vicente: Weverson Costa, Mohamed Bamba, Héctor Hernández and Arthur Tchaptchet (in doubt), Marvin Elimbi (punished).