UEFA Champions League play-offs: FC Twente Enschede vs. SL Benfica – Match preview
It will be an exciting battle between http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Twente-c39233 Enschede and SL Benfica when the two sides clash against each other at De Grolsch Veste in the first-leg of the final qualifying round of UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, August 16.
Both sides would be gunning to emerge victorious in the first-leg in order to enhance their chances of progressing through to the next phase of the Europe’s primary club competition.
FC Twente Enschede
The Tukkers featured in the group stages of the last season’s Champions League. However, their chances to progress through to the round of 16 were minimal after they were drawn in a pool that contained http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan, Tottenham Hotspur, and Werder Bremen.
The Enschede giants lost one of their most influential players, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Willem-Janssen-c36846 and Nacer Chadli still representing the Tukkers.
The Tukkers cause a threat to any side while playing in front of their home crowd. They have an impressive record, winning seven of their last eight encounters at home.
Co Adriaanse, the Tukkers manager, is in high spirits and hopes that his troops’ will emerge victorious in front of their home crowd. The tactician admits that the Eagles have a strong line-up, but believes that his side would be able to achieve the desired result.
“Benfica are a side with huge attacking power, but sometimes they are also vulnerable. The big difference between Twente and Benfica is that they have a side full of established stars but I still think that as a team we are stronger. We will have to wait and see if that will be enough to cancel out their individual superiority”, Adriaanse said while talking to the media.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/SL-Benfica-c40542
The Eagles finished second in the league table, missing out on direct qualification to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Porto-c39186 following the Portistas’ overwhelming performances in the 2010/11 campaign.
The Aguias sold their star player, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Emerson-c12442 arriving at Estadio da Luz, the Eagles have certainly spent the money wisely.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jorge-c19120 Jesus, Benfica head coach, would be hoping that his side display an entertaining brand of football away from their home turf and achieve better results. The Portuguese trainer knows that his side have won only once against the Dutch outfit while playing away from their home. However, he believes that his side have the quality to emerge victorious in the upcoming encounter.
Team news
FC Twente Enschede
Adriaanse will have a clean bill of squad available at his disposal for the upcoming Champions League encounter against the Portuguese giants.
Probable line-up: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Marc-Janko-c23484, Ola John
SL Benfica
Jesus has the full squad available for the upcoming encounter. Pablo Aimar, who limped off the field during their match against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vicente-c36001, is also likely to participate in the match, but not for the entire 90 minutes.
Probable line-up: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Javier-Saviola-c18090
Players to watch
Bryan Ruiz – FC Twente Enschede
The 25-year-old proves to be a menace for any opponent with his exceptional dribbling and passing skills. Furthermore, his ability to score goals consistently makes him one of the real threats for his oppositions. The http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Costa-c9458 Rican International will play a key role should the Tukkers emerge victorious in the first-leg of the play-offs.
Javier Saviola – SL Benfica
The 29-year-old has opened his account for the 2011/12 campaign by scoring a goal in his side’s opening game against Vicente. The Argentinean will surely threaten the hosts’ back-line constantly. It will be hard for the Tukkers defenders to tie down the striker from scoring in this encounter.
Prediction
The Tukkers will be the favourites in the upcoming match as they will be playing at their home ground. The match will end in a 2-1 win in favour of the home side.
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