Thriving and going through an opponent in disaster, Benfica couldn’t be in a greater place to maintain its good run entering into the Champions League.
The Portuguese aspect will defend a 2-0 lead from the round-of-16 first leg towards Club Brugge at dwelling on Tuesday. Benfica is trying to attain the quarterfinals for a second straight season, a feat it final completed greater than 5 a long time in the past. Last 12 months, it was eradicated by eventual runner-up Liverpool in the closing eight.
There aren’t many groups in Europe in as good a kind as Benfica, which is unbeaten in 12 video games in all competitions. It has received 10 of these matches. It didn’t lose in the group stage of the Champions League, profitable the group forward of powerhouses Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus. Benfica additionally comfortably leads the Portuguese league.
“At the moment, we’re having a really good season but the judgment comes at the end of the season when we see what we have achieved,” Benfica coach Roger Schmidt said on Monday. “It’s now the final straight in the league and Champions League so we have to be fully focused.”
Brugge, meanwhile, has won only twice in 11 matches since English coach Scott Parker took over in December. It plunged deeper into crisis after losing at relegation-threatened Oostende 3-0 in the Belgian league on Friday, prompting fans to ask players for explanations and Parker to acknowledge his job was in jeopardy.
“We come here with one huge challenge ahead of us, a challenge that we are relishing as a team and as a football club,” Parker said. “We’ll go and give everything we’ve got in this second leg (and) we’ll enjoy this occasion.”
The Belgian champion was one among the surprises of the group stage, ending second to Porto and forward of Bayer Leverkusen and Atletico Madrid. It made it to the knockout spherical for the first time in 10 makes an attempt.
The final 45 instances a staff received the first leg by two or extra objectives on the street, solely as soon as has it didn’t advance — PSG towards Manchester United in 2019.
Benfica, champion twice in the Sixties, has been eradicated after profitable the first leg solely thrice in 31 makes an attempt. It final made it to the quarterfinals in consecutive seasons in 1968 and 1969.
Schmidt will not be more likely to take any dangers with a few of his gamers who are usually not totally match, together with Gonçalo Guedes, who’s nursing a left knee damage. Also out injured are Julian Draxler, Chiquinho and Mihailo Ristic.
The coach might debut two not too long ago signed gamers, Casper Tengstedt and Andreas Schjelderup.
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