The ball – Schmidt postpones his turn (Benfica)

The ball - Schmidt postpones his turn (Benfica)

There are still some training sessions to be done and there will always be room for unexpected events or a change of plan, but given the immediate goals of the Reds and especially Schmidt’s usual options at this early stage of the season, there is a strong possibility that the German coach will start from the beginning on Tuesday. , against Dynamo Kyiv, in the second leg of qualifying for the group stage of the European Champions League, the same 11 that entered the field in Poland.

Despite the team’s comfortable 2-0 win at home to Ukraine (both goals were scored by Brazilian winger Gilberto and Portuguese striker Goncalo Ramos), Roger Schmidt – and everyone else at Benfica – would like to avoid the risk.

So the most plausible scenario is that Schmidt fires from the start those he understands to be the present eleven best years and who always have been: Odysseas Vlachodimos; Gilberto, Otamendi, Morato and Grimaldo; Florentino and Enzo Fernandez; David Neres, Rafa and Joao Mario; Goncalo Ramos.

Schmidt has changed eleven only three times, everything indicating, for now, that the formula for success will be preserved.

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By Melody Gross

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