2024/25 pre-season underway

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It is the first day of 2024/25! SL Benfica's professional football team started the pre-season works on Wednesday, July 3.

The following 29 footballers were present at the start of proceedings:

• Goalkeepers: André Gomes, Arnas Voitinovicius, Diogo Ferreira and Samuel Soares;

• Defenders: Álvaro Carreras, Bajrami, Diogo Spencer, Leandro Santos, Morato, Tiago Parente and Tomás Araújo;

• Midfielders: Aursnes, Florentino, João Mário, João Rego, Leandro Barreiro, Martim Neto e Paulo Bernardo;

• Forwards: Arthur Cabral, David Neres, Henrique Araújo, Marcos Leonardo, Pavlidis, Pedro Santos, Prestianni, Rollheiser, Schjelderup, Tengstedt and Tiago Gouveia.

This Thursday, July 4, the players regroup at the Benfica Campus to continue their pre-season works. The second day of preparation, with the ball already present in the exercises, is expected to be very intense.

FRIENDLY MATCHES

At the start of the season, the players are undergoing the usual medicals and physical tests, split between the Hospital da Luz and the Benfica Campus.

The team's preparation plan includes five matches. The reds will play two friendly matches in Águeda, one against Farense, on July 12 and the other against RC Celta de Vigo, on July 13. The match against the men from Algarve is scheduled to kick off at 8pm at Estádio Municipal de Águeda, while the pre-season clash with the Spanish side has been scheduled for 7pm at the same venue.

The pre-season also takes place at the Estádio da Luz. The match against Brentford (July 25, 8pm) is followed by the match against Feyenoord  (July 28), which is part of the 12th edition of the Eusébio Cup.

On August 2, there's another trip, this time to the south of the country. The eagles will face Fulham FC at Estádio Algarve.