FC BARCELONA

Benfica won 4-1 at home to Marítimo with two goals from former Barcelonista Nolito, one of the Spanish also Rodrigo Moreno and another Brazilian Bruno César, and persists in a tight battle for the top two positions of the League Lusa.

In the twenty-seventh round, the victory keeps Benfica in second place, three points of Braga yesterday against Pacos Ferreira drew, and one of Porto, which plays Saturday against Beira Mar.

The figure was the undisputed exbarcelonista match to excel in the first half with two goals and assist Benfica Rodrigo and Bruno César in the other two goals.

Fifteen minutes into the game, a Nolito well positioned in the field goal finished off a pass from Pablo Aimar in a move initiated by Maxi Pereira.

Five minutes later, returned to the charge, assisted in a swift counter-attack by the Argentine Saviola, and scored a brilliant goal with a highway when passing the opposing defense.

The two goals placed at Cadiz as the second top scorer in the Benfica and sixth in la Liga, with ten goals scored in the championship.

The Marítimo, who fights with Sporting for fourth place, tried to stop Benfica in the second half with a goal from Brazilian Philipe Fidelis in a face to face with the goalkeeper.

However, the lead "red" is reassembled with the entry of Spanish-Brazilian Rodrigo, who in the first bunt (min. 65) and Nolito pass, scored the third goal.

The exbarcelonista gave a pass on the right foot to left Bruno César, who was in charge of closing the scoring with his fourth goal of the game.

In Benfica alignment also highlighted the start of the Spanish Joan Capdevila, who started as a starter, and Javi García, who played the last 25 minutes of the game in place of Aimar. (via SPORT)

Benfica's Argentine forward Pablo Aimar, said it is "difficult" that Chelsea find "great options" to win when they face Barcelona in the semifinals of the Champions League.

After the defeat of the Portuguese box at Stamford Bridge 2-1, which got off to Benfica in European competition and sealed the British to pass the next round, Aimar said that the Blues will not easy to overcome that considered the "best team in the world."

"Options yes, of course, will have, but are going to face that, in my opinion, is the best team in the world, which also has the best player in the world," said the Argentine.

Aimar praised the play of his countryman Leo Messi and considered the Barcelona forward can put against the wall at the Italian team coach Roberto Di Matteo. "The others play football. Messi Mesi plays, doing something else," described the forward.

Benfica had little chance to beat a Chelsea jumped into the grass with a defensive approach to keep the advantage from the first leg (0-1), although the Portuguese were given a scare at Stamford Brige in the final minutes with a goal from Spanish Javi García.

"We knew we were going to take our chances. We had plenty of the ball, but we're talking about a team that has great individuals, which can throw at any time," said Aimar. (via SPORT)

Barça played the semifinals against Benfica and Chelsea (0-1 on the way).
The first leg will be played on Wednesday April 18 and return leg at the Camp Nou on 24.

The British tycoon Abramovich or the Portuguese of Benfica Lisbon will be the last step to be overcome Barça before the final in Munich. Londoners leave with the advantage of a field goal and, although Benfica will not easily give up and warns that sell expensive skin.

The stakes are a clear advantage to Chelsea, who longs to get into their second final (lost to Manchester United in 2008) and what would be the conquest of his first European scepter. Benfica, even with a lower potential football on paper, has more experience in the finals of the European Cup, as it has played so far 7 finals with the balance of 2 wins and 5 losses. The victories, by the way, with Barça and Real Madrid (1961 and 1962).

The first leg of the semifinal will be played on Wednesday April 18 and return leg in the Nou Camp on Tuesday, 24. (via MD)

Benfica sealed their place in the final of the League Cup by beating Porto (3-2) with goals from Maxi Pereira, Nolito and Cardozo.

In the Da Luz stadium and Joan Capdevila as a starter, Benfica went ahead with a hard shot from the right back Maxi, who stood in the heart of the area to take a pass inside the Brazilian Bruno César.

After a pass from Hulk, the Argentine "Lucho" González quickly equalized with a shot that bounced lucky in the defense and goalkeeper Eduardo misled.

The visitors hit back with a header from French central Mangala, but Benfica, which topped the post three times before the break (two Luisao and Pablo Aimar), tied with a bit of exazulgrana Nolito, marking the twelfth season .

In the final game, "Takuara" Cardozo put the perfect comeback to the red with a dry finish to pass the Argentinean Nico Gaitán. (via SPORT)

Benfica forward interest to Barça, notes the press Lusa.

Benfica forward Nélson Oliveira, the new Portuguese football talent which closely follows the steps Barcelona, has a physical power and creativity that are reminiscent of his idol Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The coach Rui Vitória told EFE analyzed the main features of recent Portuguese international, who had under him last season in Paços de Ferreira, of the First Division PT. "It's a huge potential attacker and very complete. Can play in any system, with three forwards, two ... have a great quality in his left foot or right, it's fast and physically strong," says Vitória, he changed equipment and trains the historical Guimaraes. Oliveira, 20, has been uncovered in the past two months as the new phenomenon of football with its gleaming Luso performances at Benfica, with whom he has played so far just 12 games and scored three goals. The potential has attracted football coach Paulo Bento even, ideally looking for a striker to fill one of the historically weak position in the combined Luso, of the "nine", which currently only has the zaragozista Helder Postiga and Besiktas centre-forward Hugo Almeida.

In his opinion, Oliveira has certain similarities with the Swedish Zlatan Ibrahimovic Milan star that also resembles the physical, given his height and build. His current coach Jorge Jesús has become his main mentor and has already granted the status of third front in the template, ahead of Argentine international Javier Saviola, who renewed last January for a year. "He trusts me. I know I have much to learn, I'm here to learn every day and he is the right person to help me improve my game," he explained recently Oliveira himself. Benfica forward, whose agent Jorge Mendes, the same as Cristiano Ronaldo and José Mourinho, is armored with a clause of 30 million euros. Lusos media speculated the interest of European champions, Barça, in acquiring his services, and noted that Barça team scouts have seen all their games played this season by Oliveira. (via SPORT)

Benfica coach Jorge Jesús recognizes that prefer to avoid face Barcelona or Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Instead, would not mind an English measured in this case Chelsea, who is the sole representative of the Premier League could remain in competition if next week back from 3-1 to Napoli.

After consummation of the classification of beating Benfica 2-0 at Zenit, Jorge Jesús said that only like to meet Barcelona or Real Madrid "in the semis or the final." The win allowed the first access Benfica in six years to the quarterfinals of the Champions, which is an important source of extra income for the club and guaranteed another 4 million.

One of the players in Tuesday's win was the young Nélson Oliveira, considered the greatest promise of Portuguese football, just debuted with the senior team, and author of the second goal. after dawn
and last summer in the FIFA U-20 taking the runner-up selection Lusa, has attracted rave reviews at home, where they debated who should play for "nine" in the European Championship.

To match Benfica-Zenit scouts attended some major European clubs, including Barcelona, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Genoa and Villarreal. The Argentine Nico Gaitán and Spanish Javi García are two of the most coveted players in the Lisbon team and have been linked to several "big", especially the Premier. (via MD)

The club azulgrana players witnessed live the clash between Benfica and Zenit to assess the evolution of several players.

One of the protagonists of Benfica's victory against Zenit was the young Nélson Oliveira, considered the greatest promise of Portuguese football, just debuted with the senior team, and author of the second goal.

The player, who excelled since last summer with the selection of the "machines" in the World Under 20-in which Portugal was runner-has attracted rave reviews in the country that still debating who should play for "nine" in European next.

The match between Benfica and Zenit went scouting for some major European clubs, including FC Barcelona, Juventus, Borussia, Genoa and Villarreal.

The Argentine Nico Gaitán and Spanish Javi García are two of the most coveted players in the squad of the team "red" and have been linked to several "big", especially the Premier. (via SPORT)

The excellent performance of Nolito encourages the Portuguese club want to hire team players.

After the great experience of Benfica in the recruitment of Nolito, the Portuguese club is aware of Barcelona's youth academy. The Portuguese press said that the "águilas" to closely monitor and record the name canteranos of several players culés among their next targets, including Cristian Tello. The player's agentJosé María Orobitg, said in a statement to "O Jogo" that Barcelona has already begun talks to renew the contract of Tello, protected so far by a buyout clause of 10 million euros. "At the moment I did not talk with Benfica for Tello, but if they decide to go for it will not be easy, but in football nothing is ever safe," he said. In this sense, Orobitg recalled the case of Jonathan Soriano, who winter in this market out of the Barcelona B for Austrian Salzburg when it became "with both feet at Benfica, but the thing to realize is not over." Also appearing on the list of forward-looking young Oier, Montoya and Bartra, although the press calls Lusa difficult to transfer because the Catalan club and has assured his jump to the three first team next season. Remember that the Benfica achieved the transfer of Nolito without paying a euro, as the Almeria player, 25, ended contract in the summer. (via SPORT)

Nolito was the most outstanding player in Benfica's victory against a second division as the Santa Clara, which sail from the bench and demonstrated its role as "agitator".

They were all agreed the top three Portuguese sports newspapers ("A Bola", "Record" and "O Jogo"), which also contained praise for the coach to Lisbon, Jorge Jesús made just after the mourning over the end Cadiz.

The game, for the group stage of the League Cup Lusa, was more difficult than initially expected for Benfica, current leader of the League, and it fell on its side to the entrance of Nolito in the field, 65 minutes.

Barely three minutes had on the field, made him pass his first goal in the young striker Nelson Oliveira, one of the greatest jewels of the new batch of Portuguese and international players with lower grades.

In a move led by the Spanish-an ongoing headache for the opposing defense, also came the second goal, the work of Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel.

"Agitator", highlights in its first page "A Bola", while "Record" says Nolita "was born all" and "O Jogo" highlights three minutes in the field of Spanish player enough to break the scoreless tie on the scoreboard.

They also include the declaration of Benfica coach Jorge Jesús, who praised the actions of the player, who always "out of balance and creates problems," the opposition.

At this summer to the discipline of the "embodied" Nolito has become a key part in the scheme of Jorge Jesús despite not having secured a spot in the starting lineup, where it competes with Brazilian Bruno Cesar. (via SPORT)

Jonathan Soriano, Barça B striker admitted that appreciates the opportunity to sign for Benfica Lisbon when his contract with the club culé, ​​on 30 June.

In a statement released by the Luso sports newspaper "O Jogo" Soriano admitted that considered the option of calling at the "Eagles" as a "good solution" to continue his career.

"For now the direction of Barcelona has not contacted me to renew. Guardiola also has given me no indication in this direction, so I will not go to the first team. I'm ready to go play in another club," emphasized the forward, 26 years old.

Soriano, who was the top scorer of his team last year with 32 goals, said the squad speaks regularly with Barça and now a regular starter at Benfica, Nolito on how Benfica.

"He will inform all. But it is still early and nothing is set. There are several interested clubs, including Benfica," he said.

In his view, the "eagles" are "a great club with a lot of quality players and anyone would like to go there to play."

Asked if he is considered compatible with Óscar Cardozo, who occupies the front position at Benfica, Soriano said that "would form a good pair" with the Paraguay international and could adapt his game to the characteristics of his strike partner.

The interest of the Portuguese team, currently leading the First Division Lusa, the Barça squad is back this summer and has intensified since then because the player could change next season club at no cost. (via Marca.com)

Maxwell Scherrer (30 years, contract up to 2013) is having this season a residual protagonism inside the fourth project of Pep Guardiola to the front of FC Barcelona. The Brazilian left-back just goes into technical plans in part because there are colleagues who are showing a much higher level (Abidal, Adriano) and also in part by Pep's bid in matches behind by three men. The conclusion is that 'Max' hardly account for Guardiola and less on the games with some substance. In fact, a regular at the bench and, when they have been available almost all partners has gone into the stands.

In this situation, the Brazilian and his agent are aware of the market and a willingness if an attractive offer comes in sporting and economical change of pace in today's winter signings. Within the policy stance is clear: do not sign now, nor will anyone in the market, but if a player is not comfortable, ask away, has a good deal and Guardiola does not prevent it, you open the exit door.

In the case of Maxwell , in the club is known that there is some interest from several clubs (Milan, PSG, Marseille, Benfica). An interest that has come to the offices of FC Barcelona in an indirect way but everyone knows who has promoted: Mino Raiola. And the controversial agent Zlatan Ibrahimovic is also the representative of Maxwell Scherrer. With Raiola, say from the club, anything can happen.

In any case, Raiola is trying to seek the best for his client, who is tired of sucking bench. Within the directive Barça footballer understands this concern and respect. Nor spurn the opportunity to enter a million if it wants most Maxwell is going, which also entail that the club will save a tab that, although not the highest in the team, has many zeros. (via MD)

His buyout clause is 30 million euros.

Argentine forward Javier Saviola extended his contract with Benfica for another year, until 2013, said today the Lisbon club to the Comisión del Mercado de Valores (CMVM) Portuguese.

The statement said the Benfica "exercised the option that had the right to extend the employment contract that binds society sport athlete Javier Pedro Saviola Fernandez for a season more, or until June 30, 2013. "

The forward, 30, has a buyout clause of 30 million euros , and his contract was scheduled to end on June 30.

In recent months the sports media had speculated lusa the possible departure of several club players outside Portugal, including Villarreal , the Valencia and Lazio Italy, as well as other clubs in the Middle East.

The news of his departure from the club took the coach of Benfica, Jorge Jesus , to deny the rumors and the same mid-November said that the club had Saviola "for the future" .

The Argentinian international team arrived at Lisbon in summer 2009 from Real Madrid in exchange for 5 million euros , and remains a regular choice for the lead trainer.

This season has scored four goals in twelve matches in the Portuguese Liga and the two played in the Champions League. (via AS)