A few hours after the «crazy» duel between Vitória de Guimarães and Sporting (4-4), capital and Minho challenge each other again, now with Benfica and Sp. Braga as protagonists.
Both teams are coming off defeats in the championship, the Eagles in the Lisbon derby and the Arsenalistas at home to Casa Pia, which suggests some changes in the starting eleven for tonight's game.
In the pre-game press conference, Bruno Lage, coach of the eagles, praised Leandro Barreiro, which, combined with the impact that the Luxembourg international midfielder had in the second half of the match against Sporting, should earn him a place in the Benfica midfield, in exchange for Florentino.
In the Reds' attack, the return of Pavlidis is expected, replacing Amdouni, even though the Swiss's weight in Benfica's offensive maneuver is clearly growing.
A team is traveling from Braga that seeks to relive, at Estádio da Luz, its best days. Carlos Carvalhal should return the German Arrey-Mbi to the defensive axis and can see in Victor Gómez a guarantor of greater stability on the right wing, which would imply a change of flank for Roger.
Another expected change in the Arsenal eleven should happen in midfield, where João Moutinho will probably be joined by Vítor Carvalho, instead of Rodrigo Zalazar, who started against Casa Pia. The attack seems untouchable at this stage, made up of Ricardo Horta, Bruma and El Ouazzani.
Benfica and Sp. Braga, third and fifth placed at the start of the 17th round of the I League, will face each other at 6pm, at Estádio da Luz. A game to follow, at the minute, at the More football.
