In Reboleira 12 years later...

 BTV REPORT

Almost 12 years later, Benfica will return to Estádio José Gomes, in Reboleira, where Jorge Jesus began the walk to the spotlight of Portuguese and international football. In the round of 16 of the Portuguese Cup, the reds visit the new Club Football Estrela, "direct heir" to Estrela da Amadora.

This Tuesday, January 12, 2021, marks the return to the roots of the 66-year-old coach, after four spells at Estrela da Amadora. It was in Reboleira that Jorge Jesus started his career as a player, in the U-17s [1970/71], before returning to the club later, with three seasons playing in the 2nd Division, in the 1980s [from 1984/85 to 1986/87]…

After that, he would return, this time as a coach, to the club where he became a football professional player. In two seasons [1998/1999 and 1999/2000], he led Estrela da Amadora to two eighth-place finishes, leaving then to Vitória de Setúbal. He would return in the middle of the 2001/02 season with the club in the Second Division, leaving again before the end of the following season, with a total of 116 games on the dugout.

"Of course it is a special game. Amadora is the place where I was born, the place that made me coach, player. It is the club of my heart. It is a special day to return to Reboleira, to that ground. It was there that I started playing football with 13/14 years", said the Benfica coach.  

It was precisely in the season in which the club from Reboleira was relegated from the Primeira Liga that it faced Benfica for the last time. It was on April 5, 2009… Almost 12 years later, Benfica returns to Estádio José Gomes, a ground where, against the old Estrela, they registered 12 wins and four draws in 18 matches (25 goals scored and 12 conceded).

At the time, Benfica, coached by Quique Flores, won by 1-2, against the men under Lázaro Oliveira. On matchday 23 of the 2008/09 Liga Sagres, three goals from the penalty… For Benfica, Óscar Cardozo scored a brace (5' and 15') and Silvestre Varela (29') scored for Estrela da Amadora.

Estrela, coached by Rui Santos, has not lost yet in the current season (11 wins and three draw), sitting at the top spot of Group G of the Campeonato de Portugal.

Also in the Portuguese Cup CF Estrela has had an interesting campaign, seeing off São Roque [0-3], Lusitano [2-0], Farense [2-0] and Anadia [0-1].

On the other side, a Benfica team seeking to reach the final of the Portuguese Cup again, a competition where, in this edition, it already eliminated Paredes [0-1] and Vilafranquense [5-0].

The CF Estrela-Benfica match, scheduled for 9:15 pm this Tuesday (January 12) at Estádio José Gomes, will have João Bento as referee.