UEFA Europa League? Liga Zon Sagres? Perhaps Both?

 

 

On Thursday March 14, 2013 Benfica defeated Bordeaux 3-2 (4-2 agg.) in France to advance to the quarter-final stages of the UEFA Europa League. Benfica's opponent will be announced Friday March 15, 2013

 

BIG QUESTION: Who will be Benfica's next opponent?

 

BIG ANSWER: Does it really matter?

 

Let's be honest, when Benfica was knocked out of the group stages of the UEFA Champions League before the start of 2013 there was almost a sense of relief amongst Benfica fans. Benfica no longer worrying about European competition was as if a huge burdon had been lifted off their shoulders. (or if you are an eagle then it would be your wings... you see what I did there?) But then you have to play in this pointless UEFA Europa League which takes focus on the most important prize to Benfica fans this season and that is winning the Liga Zon Sagres.

 

A day prior to Benfica winning in Bordeaux, fellow Portuguese rivals FC Porto were knocked out of the Round-Of-16 stages of the UEFA Champions League by Malaga. Had FC Porto advanced to the Quarter-Finals, they would take home a lot of money. In fact, If FC Porto somehow managed to go all of the way and win the 2013 UEFA Champions League they would of taken home between 40-45 Million Euro's (This figure does not include investors, current, and future sponsorship bonuses) That is a lot of lucrative money which can go towards many important team necessities. For example:

 

- New Coach

- Stadium

- Training Facilities

- Youth Teams

- New Attractive Players and Contracts etc.

 

Now let`s look at Benfica. According to the UEFA Europa League money prize:

If Benfica can go ahead and win the 2013 UEFA Europa League, they can walk away with approximately €7,000,000 and even if they go to the final and lose they would still walk away with  €4,500,000.

 

Is it worth the effort to risk losing the Liga Zon Sagres for a third straight year to FC Porto just so at the end of this season we can say `Well, even though you won the League, we went further in UEFA then you so HA? Obviously as a fan and as a socio, I want this team to win the League but I also really believe in my heart that Benfica are just as good as any other team left in the UEFA Europa League. Benfica have never won this competition but have come close a few times.

 

2013 UEFA Europa League Quarter- Finals

 

- Tottenham Hotspur FC

- SL Benfica

- S.S. Lazio

- Chelsea FC

- Newcastle United FC

- FC Basel 1893

- FC Rubin Kazan

- Fenerbahçe SK

This season has been one of Benfica's toughest seasons. They have been tied for first place with Porto from the beginning of the season until recently when Benfica took a 2 point lead after defeating Beira Mar and Porto lost points as they tied Sporting. FC Porto has been eliminated of European competition and will focus on regaining the Liga zon Sagres.

 

Benfica are eligible not only to win the league but are still eligible to win the Taça De Portugal (a title that they have not win since 2003/04) and have just a good chance to not only advance in the Europa League but win it for the first time. That is 3 possible titles in one of the most exciting seasons that I have ever seen in Portuguese soccer.

 

Keys To Success

 

For Benfica, it`s about believing in themselves.They must treat every game from now until the end of the season as an important one. They cannot under estimate any team no matter what position they are in the standings. (We almost lost to Beira- Mar, the worse team in the Liga Zon Sagres) Every team must be taken seriously.

 

JJ must continuously rotate the squad. There was a lot of squad rotation during the Bordeaux games however, Nemanja Matic needs to be rested as he continues to be Benfica`s most valuable and crucial player this season. He cannot get injured at this point in the season.


The Final Word

 

We are less then 2 months away from the end of the season. We (The Benfiquistas) need to continue to support our team. In my heart I would like to believe that we will win all 3 remaining competitions. 2 out of 3 competitions ain`t bad. If it is only 1 then I hope it`s a League victory over Porto. Let`s face it, FC Porto can`t win all of the time. Victories and trophies can be bought sometimes but not all of the time.