Boca Juniors v Benfica match preview
Thirty-five-time Argentinian champions Boca Juniors will try to achieve the Fifa Membership World Cup last for the second time of their historical past when their Group C marketing campaign begins towards Benfica on Monday.
The sport will symbolize the beginning of the third spell in cost for supervisor Miguel Angel Russo, who first turned Boca boss in 2007.
“We have now to be as much as the duty,” warned the previous Argentina midfielder. “We’re going to compete at a excessive degree, the place only a few compete, and we’re privileged to be there.
“I’ve centered rather a lot on the bodily side… what issues had been executed nicely and what had been executed poorly. We regarded for a stability.
“Boca has to compete because it has all through its historical past. That is one thing distinctive and troublesome towards very high-level groups. However Boca is Boca and it has to [challenge] in step with its historical past.”
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Whereas Boca are 16 video games into their season, Benfica’s marketing campaign led to merciless fashion within the Taca de Portugal last on Might 25, after they had been 1-0 forward towards Sporting till a penalty 11 minutes into added time earlier than shedding 3-1 after additional time.
Benfica completed second to Sporting within the league, received the Portuguese League Cup and made the Champions League spherical of 16.
“Having the ability to symbolize a membership like Benfica on this match is a superb supply of satisfaction,” mentioned midfielder Leandro Barreiro, by way of A Bola.
“It’s not daily that you just get the possibility to play towards considered one of these groups and we’re actually trying ahead to seeing what the ambiance can be like and taking advantage of the sport,” he added.
“We arrived [on Thursday], [on Friday] we had a little bit of a relaxed coaching session. Everybody is ready. We slept nicely. We’re already within the rhythm of coaching and I don’t see a lot tiredness.”
Boca Juniors v Benfica workforce information
Boca Juniors striker Edinson Cavani is recovering from a tear however could possibly be again for his or her second group stage recreation towards Bayern Munich on Friday.
Marco Pellegrino has skilled individually whereas the defender recovers from a torn muscle however defender Luis Advincula and winger Malcom Braida may return.
Ayrton Costa was initially denied a Visa due to a probationary sentence he accepted in 2023 to keep away from trial for an alleged aggravated theft in 2018, however the centre-back has now been allowed to affix his workforce.
“We’re Boca – we’re big and we don’t overlook that,” mentioned Costa. “I’m completely satisfied to be right here. I thank the membership for holding on till the top and Russo for placing me on the checklist.
“They informed me they might verify the visa by electronic mail, however they didn’t ship something they usually known as me from an unknown quantity about 4 occasions. I didn’t wish to reply, however I did and that’s after they informed me to go and get it.
“The primary individual I informed that I had permission was my mom. She was anxious and he or she’s the one who’s all the time there when the lights exit. She was very completely satisfied.
“I’m drained from the journey however I’m actually excited. The workforce is actually hungry and longing for glory.”
Proper-back Alexander Bah and midfielder Manu haven’t performed for Benfica since struggling knee accidents inside minutes of one another in February.
Defender Tomas Araujo was linked with a transfer to Chelsea this week and ahead Vangelis Pavlidis could possibly be a participant to look at, having produced 19 targets and 7 assists within the league final season – probably the most direct aim involvements within the Portuguese prime flight of anybody besides Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres.
Boca Juniors v Benfica anticipated line-ups
Boca Juniors beginning XI: Marchesin; Blondel, Figal, Rojo, Blanco; Zenon, Alarcon, Delgado, Velasco; Palacios, Merentiel
Benfica beginning XI: Soares; Otamendi, Silva, Carreras; Araujo, Kokcu, Luis, Dahl; Bruma, Akturkoglu; Pavlidis
Kick-off on Monday is at 23:00 BST, with free stay protection on Channel 5 beginning at 22:45.
John Obi Mikel, Sami Khedira, Ronaldo, Christian Vieri, Shay Given, Callum Wilson, Andros Townsend, Ade Oladipo, Kelly Somers and Fabrizio Romano are among the many broadcaster’s pundits and presenters.
The co-commentators are Andros Townsend, Michael Brown, Brad Friedel, Rob Inexperienced, Danny Higginbotham, Don Hutchison, Jonas Olsson and Anita Asante.
A highlights and evaluation present, The Press, can be introduced by James Alcott and Julien Laurens and analyse every day’s video games on 5’s streaming service.
