Benfica Lisbon vs FC Chelsea
UEFA Europa League Final
Match date: 15 May 2013 - Kick Off Time: 18:45 GMT
Venue: Amsterdam ArenA, Netherlands
Match date: 15 May 2013 - Kick Off Time: 18:45 GMT
Venue: Amsterdam ArenA, Netherlands
Referee: B. Kuipers
On Wednesday the 15th of May, Benfica Lisbon face Chelsea FC at
the UEFA Europa League final in the Amsterdam Arena (18:45 GMT ). It
would be the first title for the Portuguese side since 1962, Chelsea won
the Champions League trophy in the last season against Bayern Munich.
Chelsea has done well in the last stages of the English Premiership and
has now secured Champions League football for next season. I'd say it
looks like Rafael Benitez finally has gotten his "on-loan" Chelsea side
to play the way he wants. Chelsea has no new injury worries or
suspensions, and Benitez should have a very fit squad as he has been
tinkering with the first eleven in his usual style.
Benfica Lisbon lost their last game of the Portuguese league against FC
Porto with 1:2. It was a defeat with horrific consequence, because
Benfica lost the league leading position and Porto will win the
championship for sure. But Benfica can win two tournaments in this
season if the beat Chelsea in the Europa League and Vitória Guimarães in
the Portuguese cup. Benfica started in the UEFA Champions League in
2012/13, but they only finished the group stage on the 3rd place. At the
knock out stage of the Europa League, Benfica eliminated Leverkusen,
Bordeaux, Newcastle and Fenerbace. Now Benfica got the chance to win the
first title since they have won the European Champion Clubs' Cup in
1962.
Possible line-ups:
Benfica (4-2-3-1): Artur – Pereira, Luisao, Garay, Melgarejo – Perez, Matic – Salvio, Gaitan, Lima – Cardozo.
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Cech – Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Terry, Bertrand – Lampard, Mikel – Moses, Oscar, Benayoun – Torres.
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Cech – Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Terry, Bertrand – Lampard, Mikel – Moses, Oscar, Benayoun – Torres.