When Liverpool drew Benfica in the Champions League quarter-finals, it may have felt like just about the least challenging draw the Reds could potentially have got at this stage – in fact many on TTT and elsewhere expressed that very wish – but it would be unwise to discount the threat posed by the most decorated club in Portugal.
The Portuguese giants, nicknamed the As Aguias (the Eagles), have won 80 domestic trophies in their history, with a unique feat in Portuguese football of winning back-to-back European Cups in 1961 and 1962. They were finalists in 1963, 1965, 1968, 1988 and 1990 too, showing their massive pedigree in this competition.
Although it is pretty apparent that they are not currently at that level, and certainly not at the same level as Liverpool’s squad and manager (with all due respect), the quality of their squad and the performances in the Champions League this season, together with their European pedigree, means that they should not be underestimated in this tie.
So let’s look at the Benfica squad in depth, their tactics, their past clashes with Liverpool and how this tie could potentially take shape.
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