On May 15 2014 22:35 Liquid`Drone wrote: I'm not saying they're not there historically, but I don't see how they can be expected to compete for top 8 europe nowdays. I mean my list only had two english clubs and none from italy..
Basically I think that Benfica is a team that should be content with winning the league and reaching europa league finals, they're not one of those "should always qualify from CL group stage" teams.
They're not, but they could. Hell, Benfica were close to beating Chelsea some years ago when the blues won the CL, didn't they lose because of a missed penalty or something of the kind? I can't remember right, but I think that was on the quarter-finals.
On May 15 2014 22:35 Liquid`Drone wrote: I'm not saying they're not there historically, but I don't see how they can be expected to compete for top 8 europe nowdays. I mean my list only had two english clubs and none from italy..
Basically I think that Benfica is a team that should be content with winning the league and reaching europa league finals, they're not one of those "should always qualify from CL group stage" teams.
How is Benfica not a team that Should always qualify from CL group stage? We are in 6th place of UEFA ranking. We're in Pot 1 of the CL Draw. We have the obligation of ALWAYS qualify from CL group stage.
I don't have any delusions that we are a top 8 Europe team nowadays, but we are clearly a top 16 Team. That's why we have always to advance from the CL groups. And we're not achieving this...
On May 15 2014 20:07 Liquid`Drone wrote: really pushing top 8? which of barcelona real atletico bayern dortmund psg mancity chelsea is benfica supposed to push out? xD
Pushing doesn't mean achieving Just means pushing to get a lucky tie in RO16 then getting RO8 Aka Olympiacos could of been top 8 this season if they didn't see their best player for Fulham xD
Porto reached multiple RO8s which Benfica surely could do same with.
But of course on paper Barca Real Atletico Bayern Dortmund PSG City Chelsea
They aren't quite close to that but if again City vs Barca RO16 you get an easy tie somewhere.
1Real Madrid CF ESP 159.456 2FC Barcelona ESP 30.585 157.456 3FC Bayern München GER 154.328 4Chelsea FC ENG 140.949 5Manchester United FC 128.949 6 Benfica POR 21.000 128.426 7Club Atlético de Madrid 119.456 8Valencia CF ESP 115.456
To bw fair you get almost as much points for EL as for CL. Since they always go far in the EL it's no surprise they're high up.
On May 15 2014 22:35 Liquid`Drone wrote: I'm not saying they're not there historically, but I don't see how they can be expected to compete for top 8 europe nowdays. I mean my list only had two english clubs and none from italy..
Basically I think that Benfica is a team that should be content with winning the league and reaching europa league finals, they're not one of those "should always qualify from CL group stage" teams.
How is Benfica not a team that Should always qualify from CL group stage? We are in 6th place of UEFA ranking. We're in Pot 1 of the CL Draw. We have the obligation of ALWAYS qualify from CL group stage.
I don't have any delusions that we are a top 8 Europe team nowadays, but we are clearly a top 16 Team. That's why we have always to advance from the CL groups. And we're not achieving this...
Top 16 team (which is around where I think Benfica is and can realistically hope/expect to be) doesn't mean you always have to make the top 16..
Basically top 16 only has like 8 teams that are pretty much constant, the rest of top 16 must expect to fall out of it quite frequently and can't consider a season a fiasco because they only got top 24..
On May 15 2014 22:35 Liquid`Drone wrote: I'm not saying they're not there historically, but I don't see how they can be expected to compete for top 8 europe nowdays. I mean my list only had two english clubs and none from italy..
Basically I think that Benfica is a team that should be content with winning the league and reaching europa league finals, they're not one of those "should always qualify from CL group stage" teams.
How is Benfica not a team that Should always qualify from CL group stage? We are in 6th place of UEFA ranking. We're in Pot 1 of the CL Draw. We have the obligation of ALWAYS qualify from CL group stage.
I don't have any delusions that we are a top 8 Europe team nowadays, but we are clearly a top 16 Team. That's why we have always to advance from the CL groups. And we're not achieving this...
Top 16 team (which is around where I think Benfica is and can realistically hope/expect to be) doesn't mean you always have to make the top 16..
Basically top 16 only has like 8 teams that are pretty much constant, the rest of top 16 must expect to fall out of it quite frequently and can't consider a season a fiasco because they only got top 24..
You clearly don't know Benfica Supporters We are worst than the Liverpool Supporters
Given the multi-billion TV contracts that the Spanish and Premier League will get from now on, it'll be virtually impossible for outside teams, not named Bayern, to consistently be among the top 8 in Europe. I'm not sure that teams like PSG or Monaco will sustain this level due to the fair-play rules, and to the fact that sugar-daddies never last forever. So in the best case, teams like Benfica, Porto or even say Dortmund can expect is to be dark horses.
That is, unless, clubs like Benfica continue to sell 2-3 players per season for ++30 Million euros. That is feasible, but requires continuous good management.
On May 15 2014 18:12 warding wrote: Two legged challenge from the side with the ball nowhere near to purposefully injure Sulejmani (went out with a dislocated shoulder), knowing Platini had already taken care of the other two starting wingers for Benfica. How is that not a red card? That's at the 12th minute.
Just before half time, Gaitan gets tripped from the back in the box facing only the goalkeeper.. One thing is mild contact in the upper body. Another is contact on the legs from behind, and that very easily makes you trip. How is that not a penalty and a red? What are goal-line refs for?
Finally, the penalty on Lima in the second half. Sevilla's player already had a yellow. How is that not a penalty and second yellow?
Sorry about these rants. So frustrating.
I didn't see that tackle, turned the game on in the 25th minute. That's bad. I still didn't think that the controversial decision just before time was a penalty though but I've only seen crappy replays with bad angles. He maybe tapped him on the upper body and maybe tapped his foot, he clearly knocked the ball away (should have been a corner).
Feel bad for Benfica, didn't watch the game but from what I've read in Serbian media (which has a really soft spot for the Portuguese team) Benfica were better but went full retard during penalties. Really think they should just stop caring about curses and shit and keep getting to finals. Best way to shut people up.
Looking at the scene before halftime again, the Sevilla player clearly plays the ball before hitting the Benfica player. Sure it was from behind but pretty normal tackle otherwise. The only wrong call in that scene was to not decide on a corner. Dunno what exactly the ref saw but that shouldn't matter. The handball scene wasn't clear either. Some refs call a penalty, some don't. That tackle at the beginning of the second half was a penalty though. I guess I missed the scene yesterday but wrong calls always happen. Can't really say they were robbed just because of 1 wrong call. If both teams had used their chances properly it would have been a 3-1 for Benfica but I guess they will never manage to win a european final unless they get the curse out of their heads.
It seems Diego costa will not play the champions final after the last injury.
I suppose Atletico players must be very tired after the long season, lot of matches, less rotations that Barça and Madrid (They play always the same 13-14 players), etc.
On May 20 2014 18:07 haitike wrote: It seems Diego costa will not play the champions final after the last injury.
I suppose Atletico players must be very tired after the long season, lot of matches, less rotations that Barça and Madrid (They play always the same 13-14 players), etc.
ach that sucks you really wanna see the best squads possible in the CL finals
AM probably gifted it by playing Costa, Barça simply had to play all out because we wanted to win Liga.
It's curious how we lost Copa to RM with their second goal in easy offside and no one said a word about it (including catalan media). Then the Messi goal that was wrongly disallowed (hard call, but still), and the same happens. If it was Madrid, the shitstorm on the refs would reach epic proportions.
EPT
Just means pushing to get a lucky tie in RO16 then getting RO8 
We are worst than the Liverpool Supporters ![[image loading]](http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/74861000/jpg/_74861543_022257669-1.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YbOvvijuVkQ/U3PncXeta1I/AAAAAAAANkE/bJBrm0wLiZ8/s1600/sulejmani+sevilha+benfica.jpg)
![[image loading]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BnoNSlRIEAAnuDk.png:large)
![[image loading]](http://img.uefa.com/imgml/TP/teams/logos/18x18/50051.png)
Real Madrid vs ![[image loading]](http://img.uefa.com/imgml/TP/teams/logos/18x18/50124.png)
