This game was so informative that I just couldn't resist talking to you about it.
Currently sitting in the middle of the table with 16 points, there is little pressure on the team to finish in the league. Next midweek, the team has to continue their home match in the Cup, which means that Estoril's manager Viresimo needs to think about how to face these two matches. Speaking of Viresimo, those who are familiar with him know that he was appointed to lead Benfica to the 3rd place in the Portuguese Superliga last season, but the chairman Rui Costa didn't give this Benfica youth coach the name he wanted, and later chose Schmidt.
In the last round of the league, Estoril drew 1-1 with Ny, and in the match the team's star goalkeeper Figueira, star center back Alvaro and star midfielder Carvalho all received cards, and all three are suspended at the same time tonight. Add to that the fact that Gouveia, who is on loan from Benfica, was also unable to play due to a contractual avoidance clause, and Estoril suffered some pretty serious losses at center back in tonight's match.
Benfica accomplished the impossible in the middle of the week, chasing the
4 goal difference to top the group. With Enzo Fernandez suspended for midweek, it wouldn't hurt to have even the possibility of an injury at the back, Benfica don't have much of a problem in terms of personnel at the moment. The only thing that needs to be taken into consideration is the team's fatigue after the long journey.
