Nine points recovered in two months

Since round 21 – two months ago –, Benfica recovered nine points to its more direct opponent in the title race: FC Porto (3 points) and Sporting (6 points). The team is hot-red form, with seven triumphs in a row, at a time the Liga NOS enters its decisive stage.

The good moment of the eagles had already been highlighted as being the most in-form team among Europe's Top 10 leagues, analyzing the performance in the last 10 league rounds.

In a work that has been developed way before round 21 by Rui Vitória and his coaching staff, the importance that every player has in the squad stands out. If it is truth that it is Jonas who stands out when it comes to scoring – and who has contributed a lot so that the reds are the most prolific team, with 71 strikes –, and that Cervi is the biggest assist specialist, in each of these rankings there are 15 names that composed the total numbers amassed by in the Liga NOS.

POINTS IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS IN THE LIGA NOS (FROM GAMEWEEK 21 TO 27)

The coach Rui Vitória has been highlighting that all players are important. Between round 21 and 27, Rafa e Jardel, with two goals, and Grimaldo wrote their names among the players who have scored in the competition. In seven matches, seven triumphs, 21 points bagged, 24 goals scored and only three conceded.

In contrast, the rivals, in the same seven matches, have fewer points, more defeats, fewer goals scored, and more goals conceded. In this period, FC Porto bagged 18 points (six victories and one defeat), scored 21 goals and conceded five; Sporting amassed 15 points (five triumphs and two losses), scored only 10 goals (less than half goals scored by Benfica) and conceded six.

During this two month-period, Benfica played four matches at home and three away. At Luz, the eagles scored 16 goals (an average of 4 goals per game) and conceded only one. Away from home, they scored eight goals (an average of nearly 3 per match) and conceded two.

GOALS SCORED AND CONCEDED

The regularity is – say the specialists – one of the crucial aspects to achieve the goals in the National Championship. In these seven rounds, Benfica showed that regularity, with good performances at Estádio da Luz and also away from home: in three away matches, three victories, eight goals scored and two goals conceded.

The opponents have one more away match and… more losses! FC Porto lost at Paços de Ferreira, while Sporting dropped three points at Estoril and at Estádio do Dragão, and registers a negative goal difference (5 scored against 6 conceded).

Red Wave all over the country

At a time the Liga NOS is in the final straight, the president, Luís Filipe Vieira and the coach, Rui Vitória have made insistent appeals to the supporters. The Red Wave has been seen in all the stadiums across the country

The next opportunity for the supporters to be behind the team is already on Saturday, March 3, at 6:15 pm, at Estádio da Luz, against V. Guimarães. For this encounter of gameweek 28 tickets are only available on the ticket offices of the stadium.

Text: Marco Rebelo

Pics: Archive / SL Benfica