Pauleta guarantees Benfica “in the best conditions” to play Champions

A captain of Benfica, Pauleta, today assured that the ‘guides’ will present themselves “in the best conditions” to face Vienna’s Austria, for the fourth round of the League of Women’s Football Champions.

The reception to the Austrians, to take place at the Stadium of Light, was initially scheduled for today, but the worsening of the weather forecast in Portugal led to its postponement until Thursday, at 20:00.

An embarrassment that the Portuguese international view naturally, guarding itself in the preparation made in time by the club ‘incarnate’ and also in the activation work scheduled for the day of departure.

“ We know that the work has been well done so far, during the week of training and in preparation. In that sense, I think we're all more concerned now about moving a little bit today and also doing the activation well tomorrow morning to get to the game time in the best conditions. We are calm and motivated for tomorrow ", assured, in a press conference held at the Stadium of Light, stage of the match.

The rescheduling of the reception to Austria of Vienna will allow the game to be played in better weather conditions and with conditions for the presence of spectators on the benches, an aspect that Pauleta considered equally important for the ‘guides’ to achieve victory in the end.

“ Playing at home and in this stadium, we really want the audience to show up. We know that, in the same way that the dynamics have changed a little for us, for the fans must also have changed, but we hope that they will appear in mass, because we need that support”, he asked the medium Spanish naturalized Portuguese, 29 years old.

At his side, coach Ivan Baptista ensured that Benfica will be prepared for the “physical duel” and the “verticality” placed by Vienna’s Austria in this challenge concerning the fourth round of the women’s football league league league.

“ It will be a game that will take us a lot to the duel, because Austria will demand it, and we must be competent. This team will look very hard for this physical duel and this verticality in the game and we have to be prepared for it ", anticipated the trainer 35 years.

With three points on three days – triumph over Juventus (2-1) and out with Bayern Munich and Arsenal (both 3-0) –, the national champion aims to qualify for the play-off of women’s football ‘Champions’ after having failed this goal in 2025/26, when he counted only two points in six games and, according to Ivan Baptista, gained important teachings for the current moment.

“This is the level we want here, this kind of embarrassment. It has been very rich and had already been so last year”, highlighted the leader of the 'eagles', who hopes to take an important step in this direction with a triumph over the Austrians.

Benfica, who holds the 13th position, with three points, receives Austria from Vienna, 17th and penultimate ranked, with one, on Thursday, starting the fourth day of the league phase of the Women's Champions League, beginning at 20:00, at the Stadium of Light, in Lisbon, with arbitration of Caroline Lanssens, from Belgium.

After facing Austria Vienna, the 'eyes' return to play at home in front of Rome on 19 November, and will finish the league phase against Koge on 16 December, away.

The first four leagues qualify directly for the quarter finals, while the teams that finish between the fifth and 12th places compete for the play-off access to this stage of the competition.