By admin 
Boca Juniors v Benfica match preview
Thirty-five-time Argentinian champions Boca Juniors will try to achieve the Fifa Membership World Cup remaining for the second time of their historical past when their Group C marketing campaign begins towards Benfica on Monday.
The sport will signify the beginning of the third spell in cost for supervisor Miguel Angel Russo, who first turned Boca boss in 2007.
“We now have to be as much as the duty,” warned the previous Argentina midfielder. “We’re going to compete at a excessive stage, the place only a few compete, and we’re privileged to be there.
“I’ve targeted quite a bit on the bodily facet… what issues had been executed effectively and what had been executed poorly. We regarded for a steadiness.
“Boca has to compete because it has all through its historical past. That is one thing distinctive and troublesome towards very high-level groups. However Boca is Boca and it has to [challenge] consistent with its historical past.”
FIFA Club World Cup Free Bets – Best UK Betting Sites, Tips & Betting Offers
Whereas Boca are 16 video games into their season, Benfica’s marketing campaign resulted in merciless fashion within the Taca de Portugal remaining on Could 25, after they had been 1-0 forward towards Sporting till a penalty 11 minutes into added time earlier than dropping 3-1 after additional time.
Benfica completed second to Sporting within the league, gained the Portuguese League Cup and made the Champions League spherical of 16.
“Having the ability to signify a membership like Benfica on this match is a superb supply of delight,” stated midfielder Leandro Barreiro, through A Bola.
“It’s not day-after-day that you simply get the prospect to play towards one in all these groups and we’re actually wanting ahead to seeing what the ambiance will probably be like and taking advantage of the sport.
“We arrived [on Thursday], [on Friday] we had a little bit of a relaxed coaching session. Everybody is ready. We slept effectively. We’re already within the rhythm of coaching and I don’t see a lot tiredness.”
Boca Juniors v Benfica workforce information
Boca Juniors striker Edinson Cavani is recovering from a tear however could possibly be again for his or her second group stage recreation towards Bayern Munich on Friday.
Marco Pellegrino has educated individually whereas he recovers from a torn muscle however fellow defender Luis Advincula and winger Malcom Braida may return.
Ayrton Costa was initially denied a Visa due to a probationary sentence he accepted in 2023 to keep away from trial for an alleged aggravated theft in 2018, however the centre-back has now been allowed to affix his workforce.
“We’re Boca – we’re big and we don’t neglect that,” stated Costa. “I’m completely happy to be right here. I thank the membership for holding on till the tip and Russo for placing me on the checklist.
“They informed me they might verify the visa by electronic mail, however they didn’t ship something they usually known as me from an unknown quantity about 4 occasions. I didn’t wish to reply, however I did and that’s after they informed me to go and get it.
“The primary individual I informed that I had permission was my mom. She was anxious and he or she’s the one who’s all the time there when the lights exit. She was very completely happy.
“I’m drained from the journey however I’m actually excited. The workforce is de facto hungry and longing for glory.”
Proper-back Alexander Bah and midfielder Manu haven’t performed for Benfica since struggling knee accidents inside minutes of one another in February.
Defender Tomas Araujo was linked with a transfer to Chelsea this week and ahead Vangelis Pavlidis could possibly be a participant to observe, having produced 19 objectives and 7 assists within the league final season – essentially the most direct aim involvements within the Portuguese high flight of anybody besides Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres.
Boca Juniors v Benfica anticipated line-ups
Boca Juniors beginning XI: Marchesin; Blondel, Figal, Rojo, Blanco; Zenon, Alarcon, Delgado, Velasco; Palacios, Merentiel
Benfica beginning XI: Soares; Otamendi, Silva, Carreras; Araujo, Kokcu, Luis, Dahl; Bruma, Akturkoglu; Pavlidis
Kick-off on Monday is at 23:00 BST, with free dwell protection on Channel 5 beginning at 22:45.
John Obi Mikel, Sami Khedira, Ronaldo, Christian Vieri, Shay Given, Callum Wilson, Andros Townsend, Ade Oladipo, Kelly Somers and Fabrizio Romano are among the many broadcaster’s pundits and presenters.
The co-commentators are Andros Townsend, Michael Brown, Brad Friedel, Rob Inexperienced, Danny Higginbotham, Don Hutchison, Jonas Olsson and Anita Asante.
A highlights and evaluation present, The Press, will probably be introduced by James Alcott and Julien Laurens and analyse every day’s video games on 5’s streaming service.