Enzo Barrenechea faces a difficult spell at Benfica | OneFootball

Enzo Barrenechea has lost ground in Benfica's midfield after an injury in early January, as Fredrik Aursnes returned alongside Leandro Barreiro. His route back to the starting XI has tightened in recent weeks.

According to Glorioso 1904, the Argentine was a regular in the first half of the campaign but now holds a secondary role under José Mourinho, featuring only sporadically. The shift in context has left him on the bench, though he is determined to change his status.

He joined at the Estádio da Luz on loan from Aston Villa for a fee of three million euros, with an option to buy set at 12 million, dependent on specific objectives that he is close to achieving.

The picture could become even more demanding with the imminent return of Richard Ríos. The Colombian is recovering from a shoulder injury sustained against Porto in the Taça de Portugal and could return within a week and a half, potentially for AVS or the trip to Madrid.

This season Barrenechea has made 33 appearances for Benfica, 17 in the Liga Portugal Betclic, 12 in the Champions League, two in the Taça de Portugal, one in the Taça da Liga and one in the Supertaça. Across 2,450 minutes he has one goal and one assist.

Source: Glorioso 1904