CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Benfica beset by winter blues

/noticias.info/ After seeing their eight-match winning run come to a grinding halt SL Benfica have endured a mini-slump, losing three of their last five matches including a 2-0 defeat by Vitória SC on Saturday. Tuesday's UEFA Champions League opponents Liverpool FC had a much more enjoyable weekend, however, ending an unwanted 85-year record and capping a recent return to form.

Vitória SC 2-0 SL Benfica

Benfica have had a mixed time of it since booking their place in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages with a thrilling 2-1 victory at home to Manchester United FC. In the immediate aftermath they used that triumph as a springboard for an inspired spell of form in the Portuguese Liga with six wins in a row. Boavista FC, CD Nacional, Vitória FC, FC Paços de Ferreira, Clube Académica de Coimbra and Gil Vicente FC all came and went to leave Benfica well poised by late January.

However, a demoralising 3-1 defeat by title rivals Sporting Clube de Portugal in the Lisbon derby spoiled that run, and a loss to UD Leiria by the same scoreline left Ronald Koeman's side up against it. A victory against CD Nacional in the sixth round of the Portuguese Cup, albeit after a penalty shoot-out, helped arrest that slide which looked to be over when Benfica defeated FC Penafiel 4-0.

A 2-0 defeat by struggling Guimarães dealt another blow to the side's fading title hopes, however, as the visitors could find no way back after Sebastian Svärd's powerful long-range shot took a fortuitous deflection off the head of Ricardo Rocha midway through the first half. "Vitória adapted well to the wet conditions and scored a very lucky goal in the first half," said Koeman, who was without strikers Fabrizio Miccoli and Geovanni. "There's still a long way to go but it'll be hard now with Porto so far in front."

Players registered: Marcel, Moretto, Laurent Robert
Players out: Carlitos, Bruno Aguiar, Manuel Dos Santos, João Pereira, Hélio Roque, João Vilela

Liverpool FC 1-0 Manchester United FC
Since qualifying top of their group with a goalless draw against Chelsea FC on Matchday 6, Liverpool have experienced mixed fortunes at home and abroad. They maintained their bid for automatic UEFA Champions League qualification next season and travelled to Japan for the FIFA World Club Championship, where they overcame Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica before losing to Brazil's São Paulo FC in the final.

Premiership defeats at Chelsea and Manchester United put paid to their title aspirations but the surprise return of former favourite Robbie Fowler thrilled the fans, as did home wins against Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hostpur FC. A 3-1 derby victory away at Merseyside rivals Everton was another highlight and manager Rafael Benítez said: "Last season we had problems and it was difficult sometimes to keep our concentration at a high level. This season we have learned to do that, the team can go forward now."

In Saturday's win against United in the fifth round of the FA Cup Benítez was able to recall goalkeeper José Reina following suspension while Peter Crouch returned after a heel injury. Dietmar Hamann came into midfield in place of Xabi Alonso, who missed out with a slight thigh strain, joining Stephen Warnock (groin) and Daniel Agger (ankle), as well as the ineligible Fowler, on the sidelines. Crouch's 19th-minute goal proved enough for Liverpool to defeat their traditional rivals in the competition for the first time since 1921 and the goalscorer was delighted with the result. "Liverpool against United is probably the biggest fixture in English football and so to get the winner is something special," he said.

Players registered: Robbie Fowler, Paul Andersen, Miguel Roque, Adam Hammil, James Smith, Daniel O'Donell, Lee Peltier, Robert Foy
Players out: Neil Mellor, Josemi, Florent Sinama Pongolle, David Raven, Darren Potter, Zak Whitbread