Not just Manu Silva: Benfica to make four more XI changes vs Farense | OneFootball

The trip to the Algarve to play the Round of 16 of the Portuguese Cup will bring a Sport Lisboa e Benfica team with a renewed look. José Mourinho is not stopping at just bringing Manu Silva back and is preparing to introduce four more significant changes to the starting lineup. The goal is to inject physical and mental freshness into the squad for this knockout challenge.

The changes extend to all areas of the pitch. In goal, Samuel Soares is expected to start. Up front, Rodrigo Rego, Gianluca Prestianni, and Franjo Ivanovic are also eyeing a golden opportunity to prove themselves to José Mourinho in the Portuguese Cup match.

This revolution in the starting eleven also serves to protect some of the key players in the Eagles’ tactical setup. The coaching staff’s intention is to give rest to crucial players who have accumulated many minutes, especially Enzo Barrenechea and Fredrik Aursnes.

The schedule forces José Mourinho to manage the squad

Careful squad management becomes imperative given the congested competitive calendar at this final stretch of the year. After the trip south, Benfica still faces two highly challenging league fixtures: hosting Famalicão and visiting Braga.

Farense vs Benfica is scheduled for next Wednesday, December 17. The kickoff at Estádio de São Luís will be at 8:45 pm, in a match that will decide who advances in the country’s premier football competition. The Reds are looking to avoid surprises and secure their spot in the next round.

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