Benfica coach Marco Silva confronts a mounting injury crisis as key players miss the Europa League clash against Omonia, forcing tactical adjustments ahead of the Thursday night fixture in Nicosia.
Key takeaways
- Benfica faces a significant injury list ahead of the Europa League match with Omonia.
- Key absentees include Banjaqui, Barrenechea, Kaminski, Barreiro and Durán.
- Silva will start Echeverri and expects the squad to cope with a tight schedule.
- Both teams are unbeaten in the group, making the fixture decisive.
Benfica will travel to Nicosia for a Europa League group match against Cypriot side Omonia on Thursday, but a spate of injuries has left coach Marco Silva with a reduced squad.
Silva confirmed that several regulars – Banjaqui, Enzo Barrenechea, Kaminski, Leandro Barreiro and Jhon Durán – will stay behind in Portugal, citing a "high number of injuries at an important moment" for the club.
Injury list forces lineup changes
With games scheduled roughly every three days until the upcoming international break, Silva said the club must adapt quickly, naming Echeverri as a starter and urging the remaining players to step up.
Midfielder Aursnes echoed the coach's confidence, stating that the team believes it can manage both the Europa League commitments and the domestic league despite the depleted roster.
Silva stresses importance of Omonia clash
Both Benfica and Omonia enter the encounter unbeaten after winning their first two group matches, raising the stakes for a contest that Silva described as "the most important game for us at this moment".
Frequently asked questions
Which Benfica players are unavailable for the Omonia match?
Banjaqui, Enzo Barrenechea, Kaminski, Leandro Barreiro and Jhon Durán were left out of the traveling squad.
Who will start for Benfica in the upcoming Europa League game?
Coach Marco Silva confirmed that Echeverri will be in the starting eleven.
How often will Benfica play before the international break?
The team has matches roughly every three days until the next pause for national team fixtures.
Source: sapo.pt