Manuel Fernandes: "In 4x3x3, Benfica may better exploit the spaces for counter-attack"

Benfica needs to win the clash with CSKA, on Wednesday, in Moscow, in matchday 5 of the Champions League group stage, to continue the objective of remaining in Europe.

Manuel Fernandes, the former Benfica player and the current backbone of Lokomotiv, that leads the Russian Championship, analyzes the current form of CSKA.

"I see CSKA with a very experienced team. They will create Benfica more problems in Moscow than they created at Estádio da Luz.  The stronger sector or determinant is the midfield, where stand out the centre-midfielders Golovin and Dzagoev, together with Vitinho in the front", analyzed the player who made all his youth training at Benfica.

Playing at home, CSKA "will try to control the game from the start and fight to have the ball in the possession for longer", says Manuel Fernandes.

"It is going to be game a little bit different from the one at Estádio da Luz, in the sense it may give Benfica more counter-attack chances and not so much in build-up play", highlighted the best player of the Russian championship, according to the Lokomotiv's coach, Yuri Semin.

On the tactic point of view, Benfica, as in recent matches, will display a 4x3x3 formation, a different formation from the one used in the clash of the first round of the Champions League group stage. To what extend this change in the Benfica team formation may generate a different history from the one of the clash with CSKA at Estádio da Luz? Manuel Fernandes answers.

"It depends. O CSKA plays with three centre-backs, having two offensive full-backs, specially the right back. In 4x3x3, the Benfica players may better exploit the counter-attack and the spaces that the two midfielder/full-backs of the Russian team leave behind", points out the Lokomotiv's number 4 shirt.

"The first 15/20 minutes of the match may be determinant. I think that CSKA will enter the game on a strong note, also to make a statement, because they play at home. If Benfica has patience and manages to withstand those first minutes, I'm sure that they will create goal chances and may leave the ground with a victory", says the midfielder. 

The Arena CSKA, the stage of the match, has the capacity for a little over 40 thousand spectators. In terms of atmosphere, the eagles will not feel intimidated, in the opinion of Manuel Fernandes. "The Arena is not comparable to Estádio da Luz, where the atmosphere is very special", says the player.

Yet the temperature at the time of the encounter will be a detail to have in mind in Benfica's preparation

"That's another story. On the day of the match it will be very cold, minus five or minus six degrees. There is not much one can do about that aspect. But it is only physiological shock: when it's cold, it's cold. With a lot of work on the pitch, it won't make a lot of difference", stressed Manuel Fernandes

Text: João Sanches