Benfica worried by Marítimo pitch as sold-out Barreiros awaits | OneFootball

Benfica are concerned about the condition of the Estádio do Marítimo pitch ahead of this Saturday’s trip to Madeira, where home fans have sold out the Barreiros.

For Marco Silva’s side the quality of the surface is a leading concern. The ground is currently rated the second worst in Liga Portugal, only ahead of Estrela da Amadora’s Estádio José Gomes. Record reports that Marítimo have been treating the turf to improve conditions for Benfica’s visit.

The issue is such that Mitchell Van der Gaag’s team stopped using the stadium for regular training. One or two weekly sessions at the Barreiros had been the norm, but that routine was halted in pre-season to aid recovery.

Marítimo have not trained at the ground for more than a month, splitting sessions between the Complexo Desportivo do Marítimo in Santo António and Camacha.

The Barreiros has hosted only one match this season, against Académico de Viseu, when clumps of turf lifted repeatedly and the difficulties of the surface were plain to see.

Source: Glorioso 1904

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”