Anniversary: Javi García, the Spaniard who decided the last match at Portimão for the Championship

Javi García, the defensive midfielder who represented Benfica between 2009/10 and 2011/12 (he started 2012/13, but he moved to Manchester City before the close of the transfer market), turns 31 this Thursday.

Today at Betis, he was always cherished by the Club, where he is missed. The feeling is mutual, as it was proven in the interview granted to the Official Website of Benfica last November: “It is the people I miss the most. They were three wonderful years, we keep many memories, me and my family.”

On the day the Spaniard celebrates his birthday and ahead of the clash between Portimonense and Benfica for Gameweek 22 of Liga NOS, the Official Site remembers the goal scored by the former number 6 jersey against Portimonense, in the 2010/11 season, at Estádio do Algarve...

This time, the kick-off is scheduled for Estádio Municipal de Portimão (8:30 pm on Saturday), but in Loulé it was Javi García who shone. At 49', Carlos Martins took a free kick on the right side of the attack and the midfielder, with a header, without opposition, opened the scoring. Result? 0-1 for the Eagles.

"IN PORTUGAL ONLY AT BENFICA", HE ASSURED RECENTLY

Coming from Real Madrid, he arrived at Luz at the start of 2009/10 and quickly imposed himself in the defensive midfield of Benfica. He was the reference of one of the vertexes of the diamond that brought the 32^nd National league title.

At Benfica he won a Portuguese League and three League Cups, he never forgot the spell at the Club, and assured, in that same interview, that “in Portugal, he would only play at Benfica” and that he believes in the winning of the Fifth consecutive league title. “Yes, I believe. Benfica already won four Championships and it is increasingly to defend the title because the other teams are getting stronger - FC Porto, Sporting, SC Braga – and, therefore, it will be more difficult. But I am confident that they will win the fifth league title in a row and make history ”, predicted Javi García.