Benfica return to Fenerbahçe, hoping for joy with fresh faces | OneFootball

Benfica traveled to Turkey to face Fenerbahçe next Wednesday, August 20, at 20:00, in a match for the first leg of the play-off to access the regular phase of the Champions League. The reds were successful in their last visit to Ülker Stadyumu, however, there are no players left from the 2018/19 squad.

The last clash between Fenerbahçe and Benfica dates back to the start of the 18/19 season, where the reds, as visitors, drew one ball against the Turkish emblem and, with an aggregate of 2-1, moved forward in the third pre-elimination round of the Champions League. Earlier, they had won at Estádio da Luz, in the first leg.

In that game, the coach of Benfica was still Rui Vitória, who would be replaced by Bruno Lage in the middle of the season, starring one of the biggest comebacks in the history of the championship, culminating in the reds' conquest of the national champion trophy, with João Félix, Pizzi and Seferovic as the main protagonists.

In the last match against Fenerbahçe, Rui Vitória launched the following eleven: Odysseas Vlachodimos, André Almeida, Jardel, Rúben Dias, Grimaldo, Fejsa, Pizzi, Gedson Fernandes, Salvio, Cervi, and Nicolás Castillo. Facundo Ferreyra and Alfa Semedo came off the bench. From this squad, which also included Rafa, Samaris, and Svilar, no player remains in Benfica's ranks.

Bruno Lage would go on to manage this same team in the season. Interestingly, seven years later, he is the one in charge of Benfica in this Wednesday's match, August 20, against Fenerbahçe, currently managed by José Mourinho, a coach who has not lost to the reds for over 20 years.

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