Benfica-Club Brugge: Champions League (Round of 16) preview

Benfica have a foot and a half in the Champions League quarter-final and will be anxious to avoid any scares this evening at the Estadio da Luz. The Belgian side have endured a significant slump since qualifying from the group stage in November as they sacked coach Hoefkens in December after going nine games with just two wins. His replacement Scott Parker, has fared little better with the English coach just recording two victories in his 11 games on the Club Brugge bench. “It doesn’t affect me because I don’t read what the newspapers write”, he stated at a press conference as doubts circulates about his continuity in the position.

Benfica sit aloft on top of the Portuguese league table with an eight point cushion over second placed FC Porto and are one step away from a place in the next round of the European competition. Head coach Roger Schmidt explained, that perspective is needed by fans of the team: “We’re having a very good season, but what happens at the end of it is what’s important.”

Benfica will need to keep an eye on Joao Mário, Gonçalo Ramos, Otamendi and Florentino with the quartet of key players just one yellow card away from a suspension that would rule them out of a possible quarter-final first leg. Bah is expected to play despite training in the gym yesterday and Guedes too is expected to be fit with Draxler and Ristic are the players set to miss out through injury.