Ahead of Casa Pia - Benfica, Mourinho faces strain out wide | OneFootball

The international break has taken its toll on Benfica’s right-backs, with several players racking up significant minutes for their respective national teams. The situation could force José Mourinho to manage the position cautiously in the next round, against Casa Pia, in Rio Maior.

Amar Dedic was the most-used player during this international window, totaling 232 minutes for Bosnia, including two matches that went to extra time against Wales and Italy. Despite his strong run of form, which ended with qualification for the 2026 World Cup, the full-back will not be available for the next match due to suspension following his sending-off in Arouca.

Meanwhile, Alexander Bah, who has started Benfica’s last two matches, also returns with a heavy workload. The Dane went past the 200-minute mark across two games, including a 120-minute match against Czechia. Even so, the fact that Benfica only play on Monday gives some leeway in terms of physical recovery.

Daniel Banjaqui emerges as a valid alternative after a positive showing for Portugal’s under-21s. The young full-back made two starts, scored against Scotland, and returns to Seixal full of confidence, at a time when a contract renewal is imminent.

Beyond these options, Mourinho can also turn to the versatility of Sidny Cabral, who also featured during the international break, or move Tomás Araújo to right-back, a position he already knows well. The Benfica coach therefore has several solutions available in a context that calls for careful management of physical fatigue.

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