When SLB started the second half of the 11/12 season in January 2012 they were still undefeated in the Liga Zon Sagres and although in second place, they were confident that they would surpass FC Porto in the league standings. There was a belief from SLB fans that eventually "A Liga é nossa." Cardozo was scoring goals. New additions to the team such as centre back Ezequiel Garay, midfielder Axel Witsel and newly appointed goal keeper Artur were making a difference at the helm. So where did it all go wrong in the 11/12 season? What were SLB biggest highs and lows throughout 2012? and what does 2013 hold for SLB?
Beginning of The Year
The year started off on January 3 with an away win to Vitoria Guimaraes 4-1 in a Taça Da Liga group stage game. SLB overcame Santa Clara, Maritimo to advance through the group stage of the Taça. Defeated FC Porto 3-2 at home in the semi - finals ( one of the few games we saw Eduardo at net) and then winning the Taça in Coimbra 2-1 over Gil Vicente ( Rodrigo 31' Saviola 83') this would be one of SLB greatest moments of this year. SLB 's fourth Taça Da Liga.
SLB entered 2012 in second place with 12 games into the season and 33 points. They were undefeated with a 9 win - 0 loses - 3 draws ( Gil Vicente, Porto, Braga) The following results were SLB's highpoint fo the season:
Matchday 13 vs. Rio Ave 5-1.
Matchday 14 vs. Leiria. 4-0
Matchday 15 vs. Vitória 4-1
Matchday 16 vs. Gil Vicente 3-1
Matchday 17 vs. Feirense 2-1
Matchday 18 vs. Nacional 4-1
Where did it all go wrong?
SLB woes of the season began on February 15 when the team flew out to Russia and played Zenit St.Petersburg in leg 1 of the round of 16 part of the UEFA Champions League. They lost 3-2 and although the team would reach the Quarter - Final stages of the tournament, players were exhausted and for the rest of the season they struggled in the league.
On February 20 Matchday 19 saw SLB concede their first loss in the league losing 1-0 to Vitoria Guimaraes on the road. (Matchday 4, I witnessed SLB defeat Vitoria Guimaraes 2-1 at Luz which was my very first game with my wife to be :-)
Matchday 20 was a scoreless result to Academica. I remember hearing this game on the "relato" and realizing that this was a game that they could of won. Garcia did not play, Jardel was playing in the back instead of Luisao and although Maxi played he was not 100%. The team was burned out and this was due to JJ's inability to rotate the squad which led to his biggest default as the coach.
On Matchday 21 SLB hosted The Classico vs FC Porto at Luz. Although Porto were leading in the standings at this point there was still hope that SLB can catch up and gain momentum. Both teams dressed their best 11 although players like Garay had just returned from international duties and Aimar was not 100%, SLB best players were on the pitch that day. Pedro Proenca was the referee and like almost all Classico matches controversy was evident. Emerson was given his second yellow on the 63' and by the 64th minute Porto had taken a 2-1 lead with a goal from ex SLB player Christian Rodriguez. 87 minutes Maicon made it 3-1. This was the last time we would see Hulk at the Luz wearing a Porto jersey.
Another big downfall of the season was losing at home to Porto which pretty much decided the league to Porto.
The controversy was not over yet. On Matchday 23, SLB gave up more point to Olhanese drawing 0-0 in a game in which Aimar received an undeserved straight red. And then my least favorite moment of the year was losing to Chelsea in the Quarter Finals of the UEFA champions league. 1-0 at home and then 2-1 away. Any football critic who saw both games noticed that Benfica played a much more attractive game in that series then Chelsea. There are moments in which a fan will always remember and for me it was John Terry's handball in which the biased English commentators (and yes I am calling you out ex- Manchester United star Gary Neville) and the refs oversaw which clearly robbed SLB of regaining any momentum throughout this game. The irony was that ex Porto player Meireles scored in the 94 minute making it 2-1. More irony,Chelsea made it to the Champions League final and defeated Bayern Munich in Germany with a b squad team. I'm not saying SLB would of won the Champions League but what if they went through and faced Barcelona in the semi's? If an undeserving team like Chelsea managed to of defeated Messi and co. with a "Parking the bus" strategy then why couldn't SLB? Then a B-squad Chelsea team wins the title to a German home side Bayern Munich. WTF!
Personal Heartbreak Of The Year Benfica vs Chelsea Quarter- Finals matches
If losing to Porto was bad who can forget Matchday 26: The Lisbon Derby against Sporting (Please visit my blog a few weeks prior as I described the importance of this derby) Both teams produced 12 yellow cards and one red card was issued to Javi Garcia in the 90th minute. Although Sporting this season is terrible, last season they were still a threat to SLB. Sporting scored a PK in the 18th minute and it remained 1-0 throughout a ruthless derby match.
Benfica ended the 11/12 season in second place with 69 points and just 6 points behind FC Porto. Benfica had a decent performance throughout the UEFA Champions League and won the Taça da Liga.
Many began to question SLB coach JJ and his tactics. For example:
SLB brought in Joan Capdevila an ex- Spain world cup team member and yet Emerson was SLB primary left back throughout the year? (Almost every game Benfica would allow one goal, it was always a strong opposition going past a weak left sided defense. Look at the highlights from the Porto games.)
With a deep enough squad why wasn't the squad being rotated? especially during a year in which SLB had Champions League, The Portuguese League and Cup Games to worry about.
In part 2, I will discuss the following:
What was in store for Benfica through the summer 2012 transfer window?
JJ job security?
Presidential Elections and the first half of the 2012/13 season + January 2013 rumours.
Where's Garay?
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