Luis Freire and the “internal challenge” with Benfica: “Rio Ave has never won in Luz in 85 years.”

The Vila-Condenses coach is planning a duel with the Eagles. He hopes to make history and win in the Red House, a stage that “inspires any player.”

On Saturday, Luis Freire designed the match against Benfica, in the ninth round of the league, scheduled for Sunday, at 6 pm, at the Estadio da Luz. Rio Ave coach remembered the difficult calendar and evaluated the campaign. Avista so far.

“This is the fourth match we play against the favorite teams to finish the tournament in the top four. We had to play away against these teams – Sporting, Porto, Braga and Benfica – in the first nine rounds… In the other five matches, there was a normal course, we lost only one match. We are in the plan for this stage. We know we have a much better second half than the first round to score more points. This will be the last match with this high level of difficulty,” the coach began to say, in anticipation of the duel with the Reds.

Despite not achieving a win in the last round, against Famalicao (1-1), a match that Rio Ave deserved to win, the team is going through a good moment and is looking for the three points in Luz, against a strong competitor. Benfica: “Benfica were a very dynamic attacking team, playing football that the fans loved. They are a very strong team at home, and they have won all their matches in Luz for the championship. The Champions League is another competition. We have identified the aspects in which Benfica are very strong. They are one of the best teams in the tournament, with world-famous players, and a 60,000 capacity stadium by their side, always supporting them. The wall of difficulties that will be raised is very high, but we are a very competitive and very hard-working team and we have come together through the difficulties.

Looking forward to making history

Vila-Condense, who have never won at home, will try to make history on Sunday: “It ends up being a chance for us. Rio Ave has never won in Luz in its 85-year history. It is an internal challenge that we face, in the name of the very great history that Rio Ave has. We have to act in a way that allows us to play the game to win. There will be moments when Benfica are ahead, but we have to look at Benfica's goal as well.

Luis Freire remembers that the last confrontation between the two teams ended in a draw (1-1), in Vila do Conde, in the last round of the league last year: “The last match against Benfica ended in a draw here in Villa.” Do condi. There are different times, different groups, and different procedures. I feel like our team, with the ball, still has more conditions this year to be able to hurt opponents.

Exit Frosailles and Martim Neto

Both Marius Vrosailles, suspended, and Martim Neto, on loan from the Eagles to Rio Ave, cannot face Benfica, they were important players in Luis Freire's manoeuvre.

“These two players were key players and were in good shape. But in the last match, Frosai and Joao were sent off [Graça] Came very well. He will do the job and this is an opportunity for him. As for Neto, there are players who also played in this position. We have a balanced and competitive team and everyone wants to play. Everyone knows that Luz is a good platform to play football and that it inspires any player,” said the Rio Avista coach.