Bruno Lage backs Benfica starter for Santa Clara despite row | OneFootball

Nicolás Otamendi was sent off in the 31st minute of Argentina's 1-0 defeat against Ecuador. Although this event is bad news for the player, it is excellent news for Bruno Lage, who thus sees the defender arrive at Seixal more refreshed than expected, as a result of not having played for so long.

With this in mind, Bruno Lage is expected to place Nicolás Otamendi in Benfica's starting eleven, which hosts Santa Clara next Friday, September 12, in a match for the fifth round of the Liga Portugal Betclic, scheduled for 8:15 PM at Estádio da Luz, where only victory matters.

The likely inclusion of Nicolás Otamendi in the center of defense also allows for the use of Tomás Araújo on the right flank of the reds, considering the absence of Amar Dedic as an option for Bruno Lage, due to his expulsion against Alverca and subsequent injury while on national duty.

This was the first time the experienced 37-year-old central defender received a red card while playing for the Argentine national team. This incident means Nicolás Otamendi will be unable to participate in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup, as the game in question was part of the qualification for the tournament.

Released from national duty, the captain of Clube da Luz reported to Benfica Campus last Wednesday, September 10. This means that Otamendi is fully available to be part of Bruno Lage's preparation work for the National Championship game against Santa Clara.

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