"Big games ahead"

Mário Branco, Benfica's general manager for professional football, reacted to the result of the Champions League league phase draw which took place on Thursday, August 28, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, where he was present.

"The Champions League is the competition where SL Benfica has to be, due to its size, history, and international prestige. There are undoubtedly some big games ahead, especially because six of the eight opponents are from the big 5 leagues, plus a historic team from the Netherlands," said the general manager in statements to the club’s media.

Mário Branco also addressed the club's ambitions for this stage of the competition: "The first goal in the Champions League, for a club like SL Benfica, regardless of the opponents, is to qualify for the knockout stage, but once the opponents are known, it is also essential to know the schedule, which will only happen on Saturday, so that we can look at the moments and contexts in which we will face each of the teams that the draw has dictated."

As for away clashes, the general manager highlighted the “positive fact” that the Eagles will face Qarabag at home, thus avoiding a trip to Azerbaijan. “ For the rest, the trips are ‘normal’: two to England, one to Italy, and another to the Netherlands,” he noted.

"We will have time to analyze and prepare for each game. At the moment, our focus is entirely on Alverca [Liga Betclic, Matchday 4, at 6 pm, this Sunday, August 31, at the Estádio do FC Alverca], so we can finish this first cycle of the season in the best possible way", Mário Branco added.