This is the week of all decisions for FC Porto, Sp. Braga and Benfica. If the Dragons are just one point away from guaranteeing passage to the round of 16 of the Champions League, the missions of Minho and Lisbon’s teams are quite complicated. In addition to having to beat Napoli and RB Salzburg respectively, they will also have to do so with a difference of two goals. The Arsenalists are still dreaming of the next phase of the Champions League; Benfica remains third in Group D and the play-off that gives access to the Europa League.
FC Porto’s scenario is by far the most encouraging, as Sérgio Conceição’s team hosts Shakhtar Donetsk at Dragão on Wednesday and only needs a draw – they have the same nine points as the Ukrainians, but benefit from the direct confrontation as he won the first leg . But be careful, because a defeat would automatically drop the Dragons to 3rd place and would have to settle for the Europa League.
Sp. Braga, who had no luck in their group, travel to Naples to face the Italian champions. And in this case the calculations are simple to perform, but difficult to implement: to reach 2nd place and advance to the round of 16 of the Champions League, Artur Jorge’s team must beat the Neapolitans with a difference of two goals. A draw guarantees the Minho team third place and presence in the Europa League play-offs. But if they lose, they will be dependent on what happens in the other match in Group B. However, to lose third place, Union Berlin would have to beat Real Madrid.
Benfica, on the other hand, have the most complicated accounts, at a time when they are already out of the Champions League and can only dream of a place in the Europa League play-offs. And the scenario does not look easy, even considering the crisis in the recent results.
To secure 3rd place in Group D, the Eagles will have to beat RB Salzburg tomorrow in Austria. But a simple victory is not enough as they will have to win by at least two goals to even out the direct confrontation and stay ahead of the Austrians through goals scored.
It should be noted that in case of failure – being excluded from any European competition – Benfica will equalize the 2017-2018 season. This time, however, the Rui Vitória-led side finished the group stage with zero points, adding one so far in the home game against Inter Milan.
This early exit from the Champions League, even if offset by participation in the Europa League, will always be a serious hole in the coffers of Benfica’s SAD. To give you an idea: the Eagles raised a total of 40.5 million euros this season (fixed price for participation in the group stage, the prize from the 10-year European club ranking and the prize for a draw). Last season, reaching the quarter-finals, they achieved the best ever turnover in the competition, 74.299 million euros, as detailed in the report and accounts. And in 2021-2022 he had pocketed 65.4 million.
Unlike rivals Benfica, and at a time when SAD Porto needs to balance its negative accounts more than ever, the Dragons are very close to securing another 9.5 million euros by qualifying for the round of 16, a value in addition to the 41.8 million euros. guaranteed so far. An oxygen balloon for Pinto da Costa, who promised that FC Porto would present positive figures this month.
Source: DN
