Benfica skipper Luisao has hailed his side’s advantage in the 2nd leg of their UEFA Champions League tie with Zenit St. Petersburg, claiming that the conditions in Lisbon will suit them better.
The Reds face the most pivotal fixture in their European adventure, after losing 3-2 at the Luzhniki when these two sides last met.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Russia-c2991 in the severe winter and it seemingly got the better of them, as they were unable to deploy their attacking brand of football against the hosts.
Instead it was Zenit, who claimed victory with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roman-Shirokov-c31645 scoring a brace to secure the win for his team. However things still remain undecided between the two, as an action packed ninety minutes awaits them at Estadio da Luz.
Benfica, however, are under strength for this one, as their two most influential players are out with injuries.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Pablo-Aimar-c28938 is also set to be on the sidelines with myalgia.
Without the creativity of Aimar in the centre of the park and Garay’s solidarity at the back, the Lisbon giants go into the game as underdogs, but despite that Luisao claims that the added benefit of playing at home will be quite favourable for his side.
"The players are not used to playing in those conditions; the weather, the state of the pitch, and facing a tough team playing in their own country.”
He also added that while the Eagles are not in the lead on aggregate, they could still turn things around at the Stadium of Light.
"But we know that was just the first half of the cup tie and, even though they are leading on goals, we still have a chance of going through to the next round.”
Lastly, the Selecao International said that in Russia, his team wasn’t able to play their usual technical game but will try to do so when they take Zenit in Lisbon.
"I think we will try to show something else, try to show our technical skill, play some more football, because the first game was more physical than anything. It was two teams fighting,” Luisao was quoted as saying.
Benfica play the Zenitchiki at the Luz on the 6th of March.
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