No Aursnes? Mourinho already weighing up options for Benfica v Porto | OneFootball

The absence of Fredrik Aursnes will have a significant impact on the Clássico. However, according to what has been learned, José Mourinho is already considering alternatives to the Norwegian, and the Benfica coach has several solutions on the table for the match on Sunday, March 8, against Porto.

According to the newspaper A Bola, the absence of the Eagles’ number 8 is expected to last three weeks, which, in itself, already means he will miss the match against Porto and possibly the games in the 26th and 27th rounds of Liga Portugal Betclic. With this in mind, several names are already lined up to replace the Norwegian.

Starting with the most obvious options: Richard Ríos and Enzo Barrenechea. At a time when Mourinho was betting on the Aursnes - Barreiro duo, the absence of the number 8 could lead the Special One to bring back the partnership between the Colombian and the Argentine. On the same list, Manu Silva is also an option to consider.

However, although Benfica has not yet confirmed the player’s downtime – estimated at three weeks – the same source suggests that a record recovery could happen, but that this is an unlikely scenario given the nature of Aursnes’s physical problems.

This season, wearing the Benfica shirt, Fredrik Aursnes – valued at 17 million euros – has already played 43 games: 22 in Liga Portugal Betclic, 14 in the Champions League, four in the Portuguese Cup, two in the League Cup, and one in the Super Cup. In the 3,635 minutes he has spent on the pitch, the midfielder has recorded four goals and seven assists.

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