Did the ocean liner of Light almost fall asleep in the Mediterranean?

This transcription was automatically generated by Artificial Intelligence and may contain errors or inaccuracies. Another fat victory for Benfica in the Europa League. Yesterday they beat Omonia, in Cyprus, 4-1. With the same result, Torreense lost in Hungary against Ferencváros. As for the Conference League, Braga hosted and beat Gent 2-1, in Franklin Carvalho's debut on the Gunners' bench. European competitions and the return of the Primeira Liga are analyzed in today's edition of "And the Champion is?". With me are Augusto Inácio, João Castro, and Pedro Henriques. I am Nelson Ferreira. Welcome, champions. Good afternoon. Augusto Inácio, I'll start with you. The way Marco Silva has managed a good rotation of the Benfica squad stands out. Do you think it's one of the secrets to the good performances the team has had so far, including last night's victory in the Europa League? Good afternoon everyone. It is true that Marco Silva has given opportunities to almost all the players. Yesterday he gave the young Anísio the opportunity to enter and participate in Benfica's victory, but I would say that by giving this confidence to the players, Marco Silva has the players and the group in his hand, because the players know that from one moment to the next they can jump to the first team and start or come on. I think it's a good way of dealing with the situation, especially since Benfica is competing on many fronts and will naturally need all the players. Now, let me say that in yesterday's game, Benfica started the first 20 minutes of the first half very well against an opponent that is perfectly within their reach. That is true, but you have to prove it on the field and match the intensity, the dynamics, and the physical aspect of the game so as not to give the opponent that opportunity. And Benfica, in the last 25 minutes of the first half, fell asleep and gave the opponent every opportunity to believe they could get there and perhaps pull off a surprise. The second half was different; Benfica was more dominant, more authoritative, more robust in their game, and ended up achieving a 4-1 victory, which was very good for Benfica, who are in first place. It was very good for Portuguese football, as was Braga's win. I would say that Benfica is starting to become, or is already considered, one of the favorites to win this competition. Benfica is doing well, playing well, and from the midfield forward, you can tell the team is happy, alive, dynamic, and with magic. Sometimes, when they lose the ball during the build-up to attack, the defensive cohesion isn't the best, but either way, this is a Benfica that is scoring many goals, though they must refine that defensive part, otherwise Benfica could be surprised. Benfica has this 4-1 victory. Indeed, two very distinct halves. João Castro, there was still time for Prestianni to enter and score, but I would say that more than half of that goal belongs to Lukebakio. A more assertive second half was needed for this victory to take shape and almost turn into a rout. Good afternoon everyone. It's true, a much more effective second half was needed. Benfica is clearly superior to this team and then in the second half proved exactly that. They started well, then obviously let themselves fall asleep and the opponent believed. And not only did they believe, they actually managed to score, but then Benfica's second half I think demonstrates everything. Prestianni continues to be in excellent form, but what you asked Inácio is true. First, the way Benfica has been playing offensively. I think there has been a clear improvement compared to the times of José Mourinho. Then, this squad management, meaning everyone counts, everyone can play. Basically, almost everyone plays. Obviously, there are always those who play more, the starters, the base 11, but there are always those who play more and are prepared to enter, whether as starters or from the bench. It might not seem like it, but that keeps the players connected. Then there is the physical question. Obviously, Benfica also had strength in the second half; there were no league games. And then we can even talk about Sporting regarding that. I was going to ask about that right after, because it was one of Rui Borges' complaints, the lack of preparation for LASK Linz. Regarding Benfica, a more than fair victory and I agree with Inácio; Benfica is one of the candidates to get at least very far in the competition. They are in first place right now. Exactly. And therefore, I think there are no doubts. Regarding Sporting and that lack of energy, I actually think that was a remark by Rui Borges that missed the mark, because Sporting had all the time in the world to prepare for the game, more so than LASK. Therefore, that lack of energy, I think it was a lack of attitude or, in this case, a lack of capacity to understand the importance of the game and underestimating the opponent, who is a "black beast" for Sporting—in two trips to Alvalade, they scored seven goals. Therefore, I think Rui Borges was quite wrong in his statements. Either the game was poorly prepared, or lack of energy—no, because they had more than enough time to rest. Let's touch upon what the return of the Primeira Liga might be. Pedro Henriques, still on Benfica, I noticed the "Sem Falta" [No Foul] gave a positive grade to the match referee, a game practically without errors, where indeed this Benfica is starting to show the great touch of Marco Silva. The intervention of the Benfica coach is very noticeable, mainly due to this rotation. That is, as Inácio says, winning over the group is halfway there. Everyone seems to have opportunities; even Mano Silva played, Anísio played too. How could this also galvanize the return to the Primeira Liga? Four points, and I don't completely agree with the "everyone plays" part. First, the question of Mediterranean Omonia, who were swallowed by a Benfica that is clearly transatlantic. Therefore, this title isn't mine, but it reflects well what I think happened, which is the great difference in category, from a technical-tactical point of view and player quality, between the two teams. That makes all the difference. Naturally, this is then reflected in the numbers—besides the goals, which is the most important number—the 64% ball possession, the 23 against seven shots, and above all, shots on target 10 against five. Individually, I would highlight, as he was "novelty," one could call him a "village habit," Echeverri, whom we see comes with talent, speed, and risk. I think these types of players are important in teams, in a football that is increasingly triangular, square, and circular. All those geometric figures that people use; it's important that these slightly differentiated guys come along and, sometimes through risk, for better or worse, do different things. He didn't score, but he almost did, and in the second goal, he was almost part of the assist. Where I absolutely disagree is in the sense that it's logical that everyone counts in the perspective of submitting a team. In this case, it was a clean week, but you submit a team; when this starts happening every four days, one team for one competition and you put, "six or seven" different players in the other, everyone counts. But everyone counts for the Europa League. People are forgetting that. Last year at Porto, everyone counted too. Let's see if everyone counts this year. There is a huge, abysmal difference between the Europa League and the Champions League. And therefore, this story of "everyone counts," where Benfica, Porto, Sporting—speaking of these three—can play a game at home. You mean everyone counts because it's Omonia? No, it's not Omonia, it's the Europa League. The competition itself. No, of course it's the competition itself. Last year at Porto, everyone counted because it was the Europa League and they went far. Braga did the same. Let's see if everyone counts at Porto this year. They don't, and they lose. Just like Sporting; if everyone counted, they'd lose. What Benfica did, or what Sporting and Porto—and in this case, Porto is a good example—do in the Europa League, they cannot do in the same proportion in the Champions League. Why? That's why some players are more starters than others. In my view, it's not by chance that Benfica, as Inácio said, the game wasn't settled and it was necessary to go to the bench. And it's not the financial bench, it's the substitutes' bench, which in this case is the starters' bench, to bring in the heavyweights to provide consistency. For example, João Palhinha himself, although not at his best form, but that's what Benfica did. And therefore, it's in that perspective that Benfica, yes, like Braga for example, can do exactly this "everyone counts" thing, because they are in competitions whose competitive level and the teams there are far inferior to what happens in the Champions League. Because this thing of Benfica, Porto, Sporting doing this in the Champions League and internal competitions is, excuse the expression, a bit of a joke. You can't do it because there isn't enough squad depth for that while maintaining the same quality. Augusto Inácio, very quickly, Braga debuted with a victory under the new coach Franklin Carvalho last night in Ghent. Torreense's defeat, also by significant numbers, 4-1, against Ferencváros in Hungary. That was more expected, I'd say, right? Yes, although I believed that Torreense could still pull off a surprise. They actually tied the game with a great goal by Pozzo, 1-1. And I had that hope that Torreense could at least achieve a draw. But Ferencváros was better, that's the truth. They won—I think the numbers were exaggerated—but they won. And I think Torreense is doing everything they can to dignify Portuguese football and we just have to say that Torreense is that sympathetic team that all we Portuguese, I think, are rooting for to make a good showing, whether we are fans of the club or not, but Torreense is fighting for their lives and that counts. Regarding Sporting Braga, there was an important test here, because the new coach, two days after taking over the team, wins 2-0 and wins well. Now, let's not say that he just snapped his fingers and now everything will always go well. Calm down, because this also has a bit—and a lot—of Vítor Santos' work, who was there, but it is an important victory for Braga, an important victory for the group, for the incoming coach, who gains more morale, if one can say that. I would say it's a very good victory, and I call attention here to Sporting Braga's first goal. They didn't learn that play in two days; that was worked on long before. I would say it is a great goal, a European goal, I'd say, but it means the coach really started on the right foot. João Castro, will Rúben Amorim hold on at Milan? Yesterday a heavy defeat, 3-0 against Bournemouth. Can you hear me now? Yes. You were asking if Rúben Amorim would hold on, right? Yes. I spent this whole week in Milan. And how was it? Obviously, I was there for work. And you must have brought a souvenir here for the champions. True. I have some Italian paintings here, if you want. But let me tell you that I also had the opportunity to visit the Parma training center, and then we can talk a little bit about that in my final note. But the truth is that I socialized with many Milan fans who like Rúben Amorim. And yesterday was very much about the game's constraints. There were two penalties, and the goalkeeper was sent off early. Therefore, knowing it was a difficult game, obviously against a team that is good and is from the Premier League, I think Rúben Amorim has done a good job. I think they are in fifth or fourth in the championship. And therefore, I think that is the most important aspect for them. And for the fans. For Milan, for the fans. Everyone talks, obviously, about fighting for the title, for the Scudetto, but this was a setback. But the constraints of the game didn't help. Therefore, I think yes, I think Rúben Amorim can hold on. There were three goals from set pieces. Two penalties and one free kick. The penalty and the goalkeeper's expulsion were also a bit childish. The condition right away. The game was ruined in the first half. Therefore, we cannot overemphasize this result, and believe me, the fans are very focused on the championship. Here is the pulse of the Milanese taken by João Castro. We must move on to our champion notes. Tomorrow we will surely look at the start of the Primeira Liga, which already has Vitória Sport Clube Marítimo today, but the three big clubs play in this round with three sensations of this championship. We'll see how that goes. We will address those matches tomorrow, in the weekend edition of "The Champion Is". Pedro Henriques, who does your note go to today? A grade of 20, congratulations to our mythical Gabriel Alves. Even I have a note like that for Gabriel. Who celebrates his birthday today. Celebrate this day with all the strength of the technique and the technique of the strength and preferably in a beautiful, new, and airy stadium. A hug from the "Pipocas" here at Rádio Observador. Very well. A note came out for Gabriel Alves, who is to be congratulated today. Augusto Inácio, who does your champion note go to? Augusto? Am I? You can hear me, right? Yes, now you can. I was saying the same words as Pedro Henrique for our master. A big hug of congratulations, and I think he will be happy to have friends like us. We are here at Observador talking about "pipocas," talking about all this, as Pedro said, and he will surely be laughing. Good day to you, Gabriel Alves. A grade of 17 for Benfica and for Braga for the victories they had yesterday; they were very important for the clubs and for Portuguese football. Also a grade of 17 for Sporting's handball team. They beat Alckensen Stad of Sweden 42-40. Four victories and one draw in the Handball Champions League. And a grade of 3. Not for the coach, but for the Flamengo players. Zero-zero yesterday; I was watching the game, I'm talking to you and I'm a bit sleepy too, because it finished very late, but I'd say Jorginho, Paquetá, Bruno Henriques—out of five penalties, Flamengo missed three. You can't go to the final like that, Flamengo. It will be Palmeiras and— Estudiantes. Estudiantes, yes. Linares Jardim's Flamengo falls by the wayside, losing on penalties. João Castro, and your champion note to close. Clearly a grade of 20 for our great master Gabriel Alves and friend. A note for him, he deserves everything, a great day for him. Then 17 for Benfica and for Braga, clearly. What I was going to say, for example, Parma has a dirt field for the kids to train on once a week, at least on the dirt, to get used to better ball control. It's a current trend and therefore, I leave that reference here. Besides playing, obviously, on synthetic turf, the kids train at least once a week on a dirt pitch. And what Inácio just said, the Flamengo players missed, but the goalkeeper saved. Three beautiful saves. True. Today's edition of "The Champion Is" is complete. I will also be with the weekend edition, always after 11:30. We will be back tomorrow. Until tomorrow, champions.