Norton de Matos: Benfica v Fenerbahçe tie is fundamental | OneFootball

Luís Norton de Matos previewed the Benfica match against Fenerbahçe, having difficulty attributing a favorite for the match

Luís Norton de Matos previewed the Benfica match against Fenerbahçe, to be played for the second leg of the Champions League playoff tomorrow, August 27. The former coach of the Eagles' B team stated that the match, to be held at the Estádio da Luz at 20:00, will be balanced, revealing that it is difficult to predict the winner of the tie.

“The championship started for Benfica in a predictable way from a results point of view. They ended up getting all six points, so nothing negative to report in that aspect. A Benfica that started the season with a lot of momentum, with the Super Cup they won and the Champions League qualifiers. So, it's a Benfica that started with determination and has delivered so far”, said the former coach of the Eagles' secondary team.

Next, Luís Norton de Matos began his analysis of the Champions League match, stating that the win is essential from an economic point of view: “The draw in Turkey was a result that opens up a good perspective for tomorrow, and I think the Champions League match is fundamental to confirming everything Benfica promised at the start of this season and the signings that were made. It's a match that, from a sporting and economic point of view, is crucial for Benfica's immediate future”.

The 71-year-old coach did not attribute favoritism to either team and highlighted Mourinho's experience in European competitions: “Given that Fenerbahçe is coached by Mourinho and Mourinho is a coach very accustomed to European competitions, I wouldn't give favoritism to anyone. Fenerbahçe may present themselves as more organized defensively and with offensive transitions, where they are strong. Clearly, it's essential to win the game for both teams, as the Champions League group stage is a significant financial victory for both sides”.

Finally, Luís Norton de Matos revealed that the details will be essential in defining who will make it to the Champions League tournament phase: “Fenerbahçe is a much more experienced team than Nice, and it will be the details that resolve the game. Set pieces, attentions, and distractions, both offensively and defensively. It seems to me that there's a point that has been focused on, which is Benfica's situation in midfield. In the first round, they played with three more defensive midfielders, but there's been a lot of talk that Enzo and Ríos need to deliver a higher performance, which has to do with the team's cohesion and adaptation to the club, the way of playing, and what Bruno Lage wants from the players. There are many factors that need to be aligned in a balanced and effective way for Benfica to pass this tie. I think either team can pass”.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.