Tottenham Vs Benfica: Match Thread

[chrissivad]

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Spurs 1 - 3 Benfica
Eriksen Rodrigo, Luisão (2)
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Spurs: Lloris; Walker (Rose), Kaboul, Vertonghen, Naughton; Lennon, Paulinho, Sandro (Bentaleb), Eriksen; Adebayor, Kane (Saldado)
Subs: Friedel, Fryers, Chadli, Townsend,

Benfica: Artur, Sílvio, Luisão, Garay, Siqueira, Fejsa, Ruben Amorim, Markovic, Sulejmani, Rodrigo e Cardozo
Subs:

Ref: Jonas Eriksson

BBC Live Text
21:44 GOAL Tottenham 1-3 Benfica (Luisao)
Former Brazilian international Luisao performing like a dead-eyed marksman. Benfica's goal comes from a Nicolas Gaitan free-kick wide on the left. Hugo Lloris parries a header and Luisao follows up, his low shot thundering into the corner.
21:41 SUBSTITUTION - Bentaleb for Sandro
21:41 YELLOW CARD - Vertonghen
21: 36 SUBSTITUTION - Rose for Walker
21: 35 SUBSTITUTION - Saldado for Kane
21:24 GOAL Tottenham 1-2 Benfica - Christian Eriksen
Harry Kane makes amends, embarking on a neat one-two near the edge of the box and earning his team a free-kick in the process. Up steps the ever-reliable Christian Eriksen and the Dane nonchalantly, brilliantly finds the top corner.
21:18 GOAL Tottenham 0-2 Benfica (Luisao)
Harry Kane is caught in possession by Ruben Amorim just yards from the edge of his own box and Benfica punish the young striker in the worst way possible. Amorim earns a corner for his team and, from that, Benfica score their second, with the unmarked Luisao heading home from close range.
HALF-TIME Tottenham 0-1 Benfica
20:34 GOAL Tottenham 0-1 Benfica - Rodrigo (29 mins)
A classy finish by Rodrigo. The Spaniard is set free down the right by Ruben Amorim, takes one touch with his left boot before deftly curling the ball beyond Hugo Lloris at the far post.
20:15 YELLOW CARD - Sandro
Christian Eriksen wastes a free-kick wide on the right, which puts his team on the backfoot and leaves Sandro with little option but to lunge at Miralem Sulejmani and the Brazilian earns a yellow card for his rash challenge.
[prebreak][/prebreak]

 

[chrissivad]

Tottenham Vs Benfica
Europa League
Venue: White Hart Lane Date: Thursday 13th March Kick Off: 20:05​

For more on live coverage please visit Geez's Live Media Thread​

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Tottenham take on Benfica in the first leg of their last-16 Europa League tie with Benfica at White Hart Lane on Thursday night.

Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood has called on his side to bounce back from their 4-0 humbling at the hands of Chelsea last weekend when they welcome Benfica to White Hart Lane.

Sherwood was furious with the character of some of his players for the manner of their defeat by Chelsea and he will be seeking a response against the Portuguese league leaders ahead of this weekend's meeting with North London rivals Arsenal.

Spurs have impressed in the Europa League this season and they produced a stunning comeback in the last round to beat Dnipro 3-2 on aggregate to book a meeting with Benfica.

It is the first time Spurs have played host to Benfica since they met in the European Cup semi-final in 1962 where the Portuguese side won that tie.

Benfica go into the game in great form having won 21 of their last 23 fixtures in all competitions.

Jorge Jesus' side are on course to win the Portuguese Liga after going seven points clear at the top of the table and they will be aiming to go one better than last season when they lost to Chelsea in last year's Europa League final.

Benfica last tasted defeat to Olympiakos in the Champions League in November and they be aiming to earn a positive result to bring back to the Estadio da Luz for the second leg next week.

Tottenham

Tottenham will be without captain Michael Dawson after he picked up a hamstring injury during last weekend's 4-0 loss to Chelsea.

Christian Eriksen could return after missing the last two games with a back injury, while Danny Rose is hopeful of shaking off a knee injury to play.

Etienne Capoue (ankle), Erik Lamela and Vlad Chiriches (both back) all remain sidelined for Tim Sherwood's men.

Benfica

Benfica are set to be without Jardel as he recovers from a head injury he sustained last month.

Oscar Cardozo is likely to have content himself with a place on the bench after recovering from a back injury.

Lima and Rodrigo are expected to lead the attack for Jorge Jesus's side.

Tottenham will be without captain Michael Dawson for Thursday's last 16 first leg Europa League match with Benfica at White Hart Lane.

Defender Dawson suffered a hamstring injury in Sunday's 4-0 defeat at Chelsea and will also miss Sunday's north London derby against Arsenal.

Christian Eriksen (back) and Danny Rose (knee) could return while Mousa Dembele is in contention.

Etienne Capoue (ankle), Erik Lamela and Vlad Chiriches (both back) are out.

Midfielder Eriksen was instrumental in Tottenham's 3-1 home victory overFC Dnipro in the previous round but missed the Premier League games against Cardiff City and Chelsea as well as Denmark's 1-0 defeat by England at Wembley.

"Christian has contributed well in his last few matches, both goals and assists and it's great to have him back in contention," head coach Tim Sherwood told the club's website.

Spurs are hosting the Portuguese giants for the first time since they met in the European Cup semi-final in 1962. Benfica won that tie and beat Real Madrid in the final.

Uefa.com's Preview​

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Match Day Chatroom​

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[yojambo]

Jacqui Oatley ‏@JacquiOatley 3m
Tim Sherwood not holding back in this press conference. He's going for it again. Strong stuff. Think the fans will like it. #thfc

Not sure what he has said.

 

[danielneeds]

Fraid to say, but we're going to get taken to school by Benfica. Really well organised and talented team.

 

[yojambo]

Jacqui Oatley ‏@JacquiOatley 2m
Sherwood on how his players might take "guts" criticism post-Chelsea: "I'm their manager not their babysitter." #thfc


Jacqui Oatley ‏@JacquiOatley 1m
Sherwood: "you can't get out-fought and out-desired. I don't want to see that again. I won't tolerate less than 100% desire". #thfc

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Jacqui Oatley ‏@JacquiOatley 2m
Sherwood on how his players might take "guts" criticism post-Chelsea: "I'm their manager not their babysitter." #thfc


Jacqui Oatley ‏@JacquiOatley 1m
Sherwood: "you can't get out-fought and out-desired. I don't want to see that again. I won't tolerate less than 100% desire". #thfc

AVB would never have had the bollcoks to say that

 

[supzistentz]

Yeah AVB is 'We Is Us'

 

[0-Tibsy-0]

Jacqui Oatley ‏@JacquiOatley 3m
Tim Sherwood not holding back in this press conference. He's going for it again. Strong stuff. Think the fans will like it. #thfc

Not sure what he has said.

Tim Sherwood today told his Tottenham squad they
have two months to prove they have a future at White Hart Lane.

Following his explosive press conference after the 4-0 defeat at Chelsea, in which Sherwood questioned the character of some of his players as well as the judgement of the club hierarchy, the head coach went on the attack again before tomorrow’s Europa League tie against Benfica.

Sherwood revealed he was planning for next season and had already advised chairman Daniel Levy about which players to retain and which to discard, as well as possible signings. This is despite possessing no guarantees about his own role beyond the end of the campaign in May.

“A lot of players are playing for their future,” said Sherwood. “We’ve spoken (Sherwood and Levy) about pre-season, about next season. I’ve said who I want to keep, who I want to bring in.

“I’m planning for next season. It’s no good me planning for next season if someone else is coming in. We’re obviously going to look at it in great detail, where the changes need to be made.

“There have always been changes. You always need new players and there are always players who want to move on, but I want players who want to play for the club. They’ve got between now and the end of the season to show that.

“I don’t think any player should be doing you a favour by playing for you. At any football club. You’ll see players all over Europe, all over the world, who think they’ve outgrown a football club. That can’t be the case.

“People pay money to watch their clubs. It’s in their blood, and I think players owe them 100 per cent. It annoys me when I do see those players who think they’re doing a club a favour by representing them.

“I’m not asking for any assurances and I’ve got no guarantees. I’ve got an 18-month contract and I thoroughly expect to be here for longer than that.

“Is the penny dropping after what I said at Chelsea? Maybe, but I can’t answer that. No one’s going to get preferential treatment because of what they’re paid. I’m working with these players every single day. I know the DNA. I know the players I can trust and those I can’t. I’m their manager, not their babysitter.”

Levy is an extremely private figure who rarely makes his views known in public. Ideally, his manager would be far more discreet than Sherwood is currently being – although his honesty is particularly refreshing in an industry notable for a lack of it.

However, Sherwood insists his boss has no problem with his current approach. “I don’t think I’m upsetting him, no. Daniel has known me for a long time. He knew I wasn’t going to turn into a mute. He knows the character I am, he knows what he’s getting. He’s getting honesty.”

 

[TheAmerican]

It's really exciting for Benfica that Salvio is back, and I'm expecting him to play this game. Salvio, Djuricic, Markovic and Gaitán are all fun to watch. This is going to be a very tough match. I will expect a few individuals on here to be calling for us to purchase one of those players after these matches.

 

[carpediem991]

I like Sherwood and his words. Would like to keep him but not necessarily as head coach.

 

[chrissivad]

Danny Rose is back in the frame alongside Christian Eriksen for our Europa League Round of 16, first leg against Benfica at the Lane on Thursday nigh

The full-back has returned to training after suffering a knee injury at Norwich City on February 23.

"Danny has trained for two or three days now," said Head Coach, Tim Sherwood. "We’ve got him back quickly after he went off against Norwich and he’s not lost that much training."

We reported yesterday that Christian was training again ahead of Thursday night's huge tie.

"It's good to have Christian back, we’ve all seen how he can affect football matches, so we hope he can do the same again, if selected," added Tim.

And the news is positive on Michael Dawson, who was forced off at Chelsea with a hamstring injury on Saturday. "We’re confident he’ll be back in the fold in a couple of weeks," said Tim.

Mousa Dembele remains a doubt after missing the Chelsea match with a hamstring problem. "There is improvement in Mousa but we’ll leave that decision until we know more tomorrow. He’ll certainly be a doubt," explained Tim.

Vlad Chiriches (back), Erik Lamela (back) and Etienne Capoue (ankle) remain sidelined.

http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/spurs-vs-benfica-team-news-120314/

 

[Mr Pink]

Eriksen is back, as is Rose.

Dawson not as bad as first feared, a couple of weeks.

Dembele. doubtful - late decision to be taken.

http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/spurs-vs-benfica-team-news-120314/

 

[Mr Pink]

On that basis, I'd play:

Lloris

Walker
Kaboul
Vertonghen
Rose

Lennon
Sandro
Paulinho
Eriksen

Adebayor
Soldado

 

[talkshowhost86]

On that basis, I'd play:

Lloris

Walker
Kaboul
Vertonghen
Rose

Lennon
Sandro
Paulinho
Eriksen

Adebayor
Soldado

Think their midfield might love a bit of that. Would give them all sorts of space.

Not really sure what other options we have though. Bentaleb for Soldado I suppose.

Or maybe Eriksen into the middle with Townsend/Chadli for Soldado.

Oh I don't know. Perhaps Sherwood should pick himself and show them all what it is he's apparently looking for.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Incidentally I can't remember the last time I got to this stage of the season and was so disinterested in what was going on. We're mathematically not that far off 4th, we're into the latter stages of the Europa League, and yet it still feels like we're just treading water.

Temporary manager.

Probably lots of soon to be gone players.

Chirpy probably due for another revamp.

*sigh*

 

[Grey Fox]

Chirpy probably due for another revamp.

*sigh*

Thats the problem right there, we need an Eagle as a mascot not a chicken

 

[bubble07]

having thought we are in an injury crisis we could effectively have this team starting!

Lloris
Walker Kaboul Vertonghen Rose
Paulinho Sandro Dembele
Lennon Adebayor Eriksen

 

[TheAmerican]

Think their midfield might love a bit of that. Would give them all sorts of space.

Not really sure what other options we have though. Bentaleb for Soldado I suppose.

Or maybe Eriksen into the middle with Townsend/Chadli for Soldado.

Oh I don't know. Perhaps Sherwood should pick himself and show them all what it is he's apparently looking for.

They will be threatening on the wings, they've been significantly weakened in the middle since Matic left. Fejsa has done a decent job, but he is a doubt for tomorrows game. If there is a place in the field that we will control, I'd expect it to be the middle.

 

[Blake Griffin]

lloris; walker, kaboul, vertonghen, rose; sandro; bentaleb, paulinho; eriksen; soldado, adebayor

 

[Mr Pink]

Think their midfield might love a bit of that. Would give them all sorts of space.

Not really sure what other options we have though. Bentaleb for Soldado I suppose.

Or maybe Eriksen into the middle with Townsend/Chadli for Soldado.

Oh I don't know. Perhaps Sherwood should pick himself and show them all what it is he's apparently looking for.

I'm worried they'll have too much for us full stop!

Nah, I would send out a positive team and hope they work a little harder for one another.

Not holding my breath though.