Group of 23 players travels to Cyprus with ambition

With a group of 23 players called up, Benfica's women's football team travels to Cyprus on Monday, October 9, to play Apollon in the first leg of the second qualifying round of the Champions League.

The winners of their group in round 1 at Benfica Campus, against Cliftonville Ladies (8-1) and SFK Riga (4-0), the three-time champions are looking for their third consecutive appearance in the group stage of the competition.third consecutive appearance in the competition's group stage.

To do so, they will have to overcome Apollon, who are 45th in the UEFA rankings (the Inspiradoras are 23rd).

Aware of the need for the players to recover well, given the high number of matches at this stage, Filipa Patão guarantees a team with "ambition" and hopes for support in Limassol.

"I'm counting on the Benfica fans, because they're everywhere, and it's been the same in the Champions League. I ask the fans in Cyprus to come out in large numbers for another important match for our club, which will give us access to the Champions League group stage", said the Benfica coach.

The match against Apollon is scheduled for 2 pm mainland Portugal on Wednesday, October 11. Elvira Nurmustafina (Kazakhstan) is the referee for the match. The second leg will take place at Benfica Campus on Wednesday, October 18.

SQUAD LIST

Ana Seiça, Andrea Falcón, Andreia Faria, Anna Gasper, Beatriz Nogueira, Carole Costa, Carolina Vilão, Catarina Amado, Christy Ucheibe, Francisca Nazareth, Jéssica Silva, Laís Araújo, Lara Martins, Lena Pauels, Letícia Almeida, Lúcia Alves, Marie Alidou, Marta Cintra, Matilde Silva, Nycole Raysla, Paige Almendariz, Rute Costa and Sílvia Rebelo.