Portuguese trio gear up for Champions League return

Portuguese trio gear up for Champions League return

Rio Ave and Estoril prepare for Europa League

European football in earnest returns this week with the group stage of the Champions League and Europa League kicking off.

Five Portuguese teams are involved over both competitions. For the first time since the 2007/08 season, Portugal’s traditional “Big Three” are in the group phase of the world’s greatest club competition. And Benfica, Porto and Sporting will all be reasonably confident of making a strong start, with three apparently winnable games.

 

Zenit on fire

Benfica would appear to have the toughest task as they welcome Zenit St. Petersburg to the Estádio da Luz on Tuesday night. The Russian side have made an impeccable start to their domestic season, winning seven out of seven games, scoring 21 goals in the process and creating an early 6-point lead at the top of the standings.

The Russians are packed with well-known faces for Portuguese football fans, not least coach André Villas Boas and his Portuguese compatriots Danny and Luís Neto. Ex Benfica favourites Javi Garcia, Ezequiel Garay and Axel Witsel will be returning to the Luz, as will former FC Porto star Hulk.

Despite facing a formidable squad, Benfica’s confidence will be high after winning the Portuguese Super Cup and making a solid start to their title defence. Friday’s 5-0 thrashing of Vitória Setúbal put the Eagles joint top of the Primeira Liga, Gaitán and Salvio have started the season in superb form, while the way new acquisitions Talisca and Samaris have settled suggest the loss of so many players in the summer transfer market may not have weakened Jorge Jesus’ side as much as one would think.

Porto with high hopes

On Wednesday joint Liga leaders FC Porto open their group campaign with a home match against Belarus outfit BATE Borisov. Despite dropping their first points of the season with a 1-1 draw at Vitória Guimarães yesterday, the Dragons will be confident of starting their campaign on the right foot.

Julen Lopetegui’s squad appears to be the strongest in Portugal – at least on paper – and as well as an array of expensive summer signings, the northerners have been boosted by the emergence of outstanding 17-year-old midfielder Ruben Neves. After last season’s meek performance in Europe, Porto will be gunning to make an impact in this year’s competition.

Sporting return to the competition after a four-year absence and begin their campaign with an away trip to Slovenian side Maribor. The Lions have not had the ideal start to 2014/15, drawing three of their first four matches, but will look upon the match as an ideal opportunity to kick-start their season, and boost the club’s coffers with the win bonus to boot.

Blast from the past

Maribor are currently lying second in their domestic league, having won 2-0 on the weekend thanks to a brace from 18-year-old forward Luka Zahovic, a familiar name. Luka is the son of Zlatko Zahovic the former midfielder who shined so brightly at FC Porto and also played for Benfica.

On Thursday the Europa League takes centre stage, with Rio Ave and Estoril facing tough openers. Joint Liga leaders Rio Ave host Miguel Veloso’s Dynamo Kiev, while Estoril travel to Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven.

by Tom Kundert