A new step toward qualification

TRAINING SESSION

On Monday, June 23, Benfica's professional football team trained at the Waters Sportsplex, in Tampa, Florida, preparing for the match against Bayern Munich, corresponding to matchday 3 of the Club World Cup group stage. The first few minutes were open to the media.

Florentino's return to training, after a period of treatment and gym work, was the highlight of the session, the last before the trip to Charlotte, North Carolina.

The midfielder, due to an acromioclavicular sprain in his right shoulder, was unable to train without limitations after the match against Boca Juniors, but on Monday he joined his teammates who were under Bruno Lage's command, undergoing the usual physical assessment for the competition.

Preparation for Tuesday's challenge against Bayern on June 24 took place once again in intense heat, around 29 degrees Celsius, but with a heat index of 35, even with some clouds present.

Bruno Lage, it should be noted, will not be able to count on Álvaro Carreras or Belotti, both of whom are suspended. The Spanish left-back has accumulated two yellow cards, and the Italian international striker is serving the second of a two-match ban for his sending-off against Boca Juniors.

Also on Monday, June 23, in the United States (early Tuesday morning in Portugal), Bruno Lage and some players will preview the clash with Bayern at the venue, in Charlotte, at Bank of America Stadium. The mixed zone preview is scheduled for 7:45 pm local time (12:45 am continental time) and the coach's press conference for 8:15 pm local time (1:15 am continental time).

Benfica will face Bayern Munich on Tuesday, June 24, at 8:00 pm in mainland Portugal (3:00 pm local time), in the third match of Group C.