Soccer: God-level check-in

After winning the fourth round of the Premier League, Ferguson set off for Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, with the entire United team.

This time will start the first game of the Champions League group stage, Manchester United away to Benfica.

For old fans, Benfica’s glory has begun to degenerate since the 90s.

Although the Portuguese Premier League is not in the five major leagues, Benfica’s strength cannot be underestimated, at least no worse than Porto.

Plus it’s away from home, so this game is important.

But after this group game, United’s next league game is against Chelsea on 18 September, which makes Sir Alex Ferguson difficult.

However, the schedule is like this all this time, and no one will have a good time, which is the only thing Ferguson has a little solace.

Manchester United arrived in Lisbon a day early, and then in the afternoon Ferguson took his players to the training ground to familiarize themselves with the environment.

At 3pm on 15 September, the Champions League group stage begins, with Manchester United visiting Benfica at the Stadium of Light.

Benfica’s manager, Jesús, is not one of the world’s top coaches, but he is also famous in the Portuguese Premier League.

And he is an old acquaintance with Sir Alex Ferguson, and they have not dealt with each other in the more than two decades since they became head coaches.

This time, the two did not engage in too much war of words, but a bit like old friends getting together, constantly holding each other’s teams.

This disappointed the journalists and media who thought they could dig up, who wants to see your friends praise each other, we want the topic of needle to Mai Mang.

It’s a pity that the head coaches of both teams are human spirits, where will let these reporters get their wishes, a look of pleasantries, people can’t help but wonder that these two pairs are not going to play match-fixing.

However, after the game began, the reporters realized that they were thinking wrong.

In terms of scenes, it is not a pitch tactic, and both coaches want to win the first game of this group stage.

In this game, Ferguson put out a new formation, 3-4-3.

Manchester United’s new goalkeeper Zhang Liang still stands in front of the goal, acting as the team’s last line of defense.

Ferdinand sits in the middle of the road, Evra and Raphael live separately, and the three form a barrier to protect Zhang Liang.

In midfield, Fletcher, Valencia, Park Ji-sung sat in the midfield, and Nani was in the front position.

In the forward position, it is Rooney, Berbatov and Ashley Young, especially Ashley Young’s breakthrough and speed, which Ferguson hopes for the most.

This can disrupt the opposing backline and get a set-piece even if you don’t have it.

This is to give full play to Zhang Liang’s role.

Benfica’s squad is not weak either, with Jesus playing a 4-4-2 lineup.

The goalkeeper will be 31-year-old veteran Artur.

The defenders are Emerson, Louison, Garay and Pereira, these four defenders are also Benfica’s strongest backline, relying on the four of them to withstand the Portuguese Premier League opponents last season.

The midfield consists of Xavi Garcia, Gaitan, Nemanja Matic and Aimar who, although older, has become better at organizing, controlling the ball and controlling the rhythm, and is Benfica’s best “metronome”.

The strikers are Cardoso and Saviola, a tall and short combination, which also scored 70% of Benfica’s goals, and no one dares to underestimate it.

Zhang Liang pulled up his gloves and looked at the Benfica player in front of him with fixed eyes, and suddenly the sound of the system sounded in his mind.

“Ding, release a new check-in mission: clean sheet Benfica in this game, and win against Benfica!”

Hearing the system task, Zhang Liang was subconsciously stunned, it seems that this game is not easy.

Otherwise, the check-in task is not published.

Zhang Liang, who understood the urine nature of the system, immediately knew that this game was not easy, and began to be vigilant in his heart.

The referee raised his hand to look at his watch, and as soon as the time came, he immediately blew the whistle for the start of the game.

“Beep!”

With this opening whistle, Benfica’s attacking duo of Saviola and Cardoso immediately passed the ball to Aymar, the “midfield metronome” behind him.

The two then immediately rushed to the front of the pitch, and under Aymar’s organisation, Benfica launched his first assault on United’s defence.

However, they did not rush forward, but coordinated with passes, and gradually pushed the position to the Manchester United back.

After all, Manchester United are not weak teams, and a steady game suits them.

In the face of Benfica’s advance, Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung and others did their best, but the effect was minimal.

They had to pull back and join the back line against Benfica’s midfield.

As soon as the ball arrived in front, Benfica’s offensive suddenly changed and became extremely fierce.

Nemanja Matic dribbled straight into a few metres and quickly kicked the ball into the corner of the penalty area.

Benfica right-back Andreas Pereira received a pass from Nemanja Matic and had no intention of stopping the ball, quickly got up and rubbed the ball in an arc and sent it into the box.