On September 6, at a time when it seems that sports competitions are still beginning, Benfica played the 10th official match of the season. This Tuesday, in the first round of the Champions League group stage, Benfica entered the field for the tenth time this season — and largely due to that same Champions League, which forced a more important and eventful August than usual.
More than that, Benfica was looking for the 10th consecutive victory, since they still did not know any other result than the victory between the Champions League qualifying matches and the Championship opening matches. In the isolated leadership of the League, with the European classification achieved without pimples and in clear ascending form Contrary to the most convulsive moment of the two rivals, the reds saw the reception to Maccabi Haifa as one more obstacle that would have to be overcome to prolong the practically perfect start to the season.
An obstacle that, considering that the other two elements of Group H are PSG and Juventus, could be considered central to Benfica’s ambitions in the Champions League. Roger Schmidt, however, did not see things as linear. “I don’t see it that way, honestly. All the teams deserve to be in the Champions League, they are top-notch and we have to pay attention to every game. This is the best club competition in the world and we have to go step by step. There are only six games left in this group stage, it’s a difficult phase. There are two teams that don’t go through, our group is complicated and, for our part, it will be smart to think about tomorrow’s game and not look to the future. We have to put in a very positive performance to win and come away with the three points”, explained the German coach in the preview.
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Source: Observadora
