http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=501873des dudes are slipping...matchday and no Freddy thread? due to World Club Championship, which Milan is participating in, the Group D match was pushed ahead... Freddy in matchday squad: Goalkeepers: Butt and Quim Defenders: Luisão, Léo, Luís Filipe, Edcarlos, Nelson and David Luiz Midfielders: Katsouranis, Maxi Pereira, Rui Costa, Di Maria, Petit, Romeu Ribeiro, Adu and Nuno Assis Strikers: Nuno Gomes, Bergessio and Cardozo
Good match for Freddy to see some significant minutes. Nothing at stake, but valuable for the experience.
http://global-ussoccer.blogspot.com/2007_12_02_archive.html#8804076086826732103 .... ... "Benfica have no possibility of qualifying for the next round of the Champions League. However, should they win, they will finish in third place in the group, guaranteeing them entry into the next stage of the UEFA Cup. Shakhtar need a win, coupled with a heavy Celtic loss to Milan, to have any hope of progressing to the next stage. Benfica were pegged back at the weekend, falling 1-0 to title rivals Porto, and they’ll need to regain their focus in the sub-zero climate of Donetsk if they want to continue playing for a continental trophy this year." ....
http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/fixturesresults/round=15105/match=301254/report=pr.html .... 'Extra motivation' The Portuguese club require victory to snatch third position in the section and although they suffered their first Liga defeat of the season at the weekend to FC Porto, Lucescu believes the "loss will make Benfica angrier and give them extra motivation". It is a view echoed by his counterpart José Antonio Camacho, who said: "The Porto result has not affected the condition of our team. It is not a tragedy. We will take to the field focusing only on Shakhtar and getting the right result. We will be ready to show the best we have got to give." 'Key to success' Camacho will be without the suspended Augustin Binya while Fábio Coentrão (knee) and Cristián Rodríguez (thigh) are injured. Nélson is also doubtful as he struggles with a thigh problem yet the Benfica coach insists there will be no excuses. "We will only settle for a win in Donetsk because that is our only chance of continuing in European competition this term," he said. "The key to success will be doing what we failed to do at home against Shakhtar – taking our opportunities."
Game is on ESPN360 which I believe is free if its available in your area... http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/espn360/index
I'll try a pbp for the first half. I have class during the second half (probably when freddy gets in).
Freddy Adu needs to start plain and simple so does Di Maria if Benfica wants to win. -------------------Quim------------------- Luis Fillipe--Luisao---------David Luiz--Leo -------------------Petit------------------- -----Katsouranis-----------Rui Costa------- Freddy Adu--------------------------Di Maria ------------------Cardozo------------------ That is how I'd play
Lineup & formation ... http://www.uefa.com/Live/Competitions/ucl/matchday=6/day=1/match=301254/index.html {Click Match stats.}
Its hard to believe that as bad as Di Maria looked against Milan he would even be considered as a candidate as a sub today... he added nothing in attack against Milan and even broke down potential attacks Benfica did have with needless dribbling
That's not nearly as cold as some of the predictions that was hearing. That's just good football weather.