Otamendi sets off alarm bells at Benfica with derby looming | OneFootball

Nicolás Otamendi is on thin ice when it comes to disciplinary matters. Benfica is aware of the situation with the number 30, who is very close to reaching the maximum number of yellow cards before serving a suspension, and if that happens in the upcoming matches, he could miss the game against Sporting.

According to the newspaper Record, in this Saturday’s edition, November 1, the three athletes already have four yellow cards each in the current league season, and if they receive a fifth, they will have to serve a one-match suspension. Now, before the derby, the Eagles still have three matches to play (Guimarães, Casa Pia, and Nacional).

José Mourinho is fully aware of the risks of using these players, but at the same time, he knows they are important for the team’s dynamics. Thus, for the Argentine and the Colombian, the test begins tonight in Guimarães, where they will try to keep a clean disciplinary record. However, there is always the possibility of getting a yellow card today, or in the next match, in order to serve the suspension before the clash with the Alvalade team.

As for the Bosnian full-back, who is absent from tonight’s game – he is expected to return in the Champions League match – he should only return to league games against Casa Pia and, in his case, he could force a suspension against Nacional, in the match before the derby, or will have to maintain his disciplinary record on the edge for the game against Sporting.

José Mourinho will have to manage this challenge as best as possible. Nicolás Otamendi – currently valued at 1 million euros – recently reached 250 matches with the Eagles. In the 1,620 minutes he has played on the pitch, he has scored two goals in 18 official matches.

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