Buoyant Benfica to give Benitez plenty of food for thought
Four years ago the Portuguese side ended the Reds’ hopes of becoming the first side to win back-to-back Champions League titles when they lost 3-0 over two legs.
Benfica are currently three points clear of Braga at the top of the Portuguese Liga and Benitez will not underestimate their last-eight opponents, who include among their ranks Pablo Aimar, who Benitez managed at Valencia.
“We know they are a good team and, of course, we have played them before in the Champions League,” said the Liverpool manager. “They are a massive club with a lot of support from their fans and it will be a tough game.
“They are top of the table and playing really well at the moment. I know a number of their players well — Aimar, Javier Saviola, Javi Garcia — so we know they have a lot of quality.”
Benitez has got his preferred order in terms of the away leg being first but he is concerned the Anfield factor may not have as much of an effect on Benfica as it has had on other visiting sides over recent years.
“We know we have to perform away and then play well at home. We have the confidence to do that and are looking forward to the games.
Should they get through against Benfica, Liverpool will face either Valencia or Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals.
Fulham’s reward for their stunning 4-1 defeat of Juventus, winning 5-4 on aggregate, was a quarter-final against German champions Wolfsburg.
“Can we go all the way? Why not? If you work hard and you believe, there’s always a chance. And I believe,” said American Clint Dempsey, scorer of the crucial fourth goal.
“We’re a team that has a lot of character and that has a lot of heart. Everybody thought it was over when we went 1-0 down but the character and the heart of the guys began to show, we fought back and to get the result we did was incredible.
“We’re getting stronger and stronger, and hopefully we can push further in this competition.”
Fulham defender Chris Baird believes the Juventus result was a career high for most of the players, but feels they still have the quality to progress further.
“To get to the quarter-finals of the Europa League is a massive achievement for the club,” he said.
“I got a text from one of my mates saying ’You don’t get much bigger than that’ and to be fair I don’t think we’ve had bigger than that in our careers.”
If Fulham beat Wolfsburg they will face either Hamburg — the city which hosts the final in May — or Standard Liege in the semis on April 22 (away) and 29.
Valencia striker David Villa felt a Europa League quarter-final against fellow Primera Division side Atletico Madrid was scant reward for their hard-fought last-16 win.
“We’re disappointed, as I imagine Atletico Madrid will be, that only one Spanish team will be in the semi-finals,” he said.
Quarter-final draw: Fulham v Wolfsburg, Hamburg v Standard Liege, Valencia v Atletico Madrid, Benfica v Liverpool.
Semi-final draw: Hamburg/Standard Liege v Fulham/Wolfsburg; Valencia/Atletico Madrid v Benfica/Liverpool.
- Quarter final first legs Apr 1, second legs Apr 8; Semi-final first legs Apr 22, second legs Apr 29.
