Benfica came up with a big win at Guimarães last weekend. Sl Benfica played a great first half, probably one of the best I have seen all season, but ended shaky in the second half. The final 3 to 1 score hides some of the difficulties Benfica had in the second period.
Benfica scored early at the 8 minute mark on a great goal by Cardozo and would strike again at the 26 minute mark. This time, on a great play by Di Maria on the left side, who would feed the ball to Maxi Pereira for an easy goal. In the second half Guimarães came back into the game, and cut Benfica´s lead to 2 to 1 with 30 minutes left in the game. Although Guimarães was deserving a goal, it came on a missed header by Luís Filipe who set up an easy goal for Guimarães.
Benfica suffered during some moments in the second half of the game, but would end up closing the game off with another goal by Cardozo. This one was a “freebie” from the Guimarães goalie.
This a big win for Benfica, so much so because Sporting would also beat Porto on Sunday. With the way things went Benfica was able to solidify the second place in the League, and would gain 3 points on Porto. Although this is probably nothing to get very excited about since Porto is still 8 points up.
On the negative side for this game, are the injuries to David Luiz, and the yellow card that Rui Costa saw and that will keep both players out of the next game.
On a final note, there were about 33000 fans on hand for this game, which is not something usually seen in Portugal unless Benfica, Sporting, or Porto play at home.
Portuguese League soccer is back this weekend, and Benfica plays an important game at Guimarães.
But last weekend Benfica had a Portugal Cup game against Division II Feirense, at Stadium Luz. Benfica won 1 to 0, but it was a very sorry exhibition, much like we have been seeing all season long since Camacho arrived.
Cardozo scored the game winner in the beginning of the second half, in a game in which Feirense clearly deserved to tie. I am getting very tired of hearing Camacho whine about the team. 
After all he is the coach, isn´t he? I don´t know about this game, since ite wasn´t on TV, but two weeks ago you could hardly tell Camacho was on the bench, such was the silence.
The only bright spot for Benfica was veteran Rui Costa, who still sets a great example for all the other players, and even for Camacho. Both Cardozo and Adu played the second have of the game, after starting in the bench. Di Maria and Maxi were the sacrificed players. Both of them, by the way, have been getting more playing time then they actually deserve. Adu was close to scoring at the 85 minute mark, but it was the only scoring chance for Benfica after Cardozo´s goal.
This weekend Benfica plays at Guimarães, in a fight for second place. If Benfica doesn´t win this one I just hope Camacho packs up and leaves. With the team he has, and the money he makes each month, Benfica should be up next to Porto, and not fighting for a second place spot with a team that played in the Second Division last season.
Half way through the winter “shopping” season, and Benfica has already signed a new player. Benfica signed Romanian Under-21 international 
Laszlo Sepsi this week.
Sepsi is a left-back and will be Leo´s replacement. It is becoming ever more clear that Benfica will not be renewing with Leo. But Benfica needed a left-back, even if Leo stays, since Leo´s backup, Miguelito, has been shipped off to Braga.
I have my doubts as to how good Sepsi is. Hi comes from Romania, which is not exactly a European soccer power house, and was playing in Gloria Bistrita, I club I never even heard of.
The deal is rumored to have cost Benfica anywhere between 1.8 and 2.5 million euros.
The young Romanian, Sepsi, has already trained in Lisbon this week. I hope I am proved wrong, but something tells me he will be another one of the many players Benfica has signed that will never see any significant playing time.
Just a final reminder, there is no Portuguese League play this week, instead we will have the Portugal Cup game against Feirense.
The disasters are beginning to add up for Benfica this season. This weekend Benfica had a scoreless tie against Portuguese League newcomer Leixões at Stadium Luz. In the first round Benfica also tied against Leixões, but at least that was considered an away game.
The score could have even been worse. Leixões created more scoring opportunities in the second have than Benfica did, and could have easily scored a goal.
Benfica isn´t playing good soccer, Camacho says he doesn´t have options, but the fact is Benfica spent a lot of money on new players for this season. Two of which were Camacho´s picks (Rodriguez and Maxi). Rodriguez sat this one out due to injury, but Maxi Pereira played, or better yet, didn´t play, this game. He hasn´t done much, yet Camacho hardly ever keeps him out of the team.
Another growing disappointment as the season progresses is Di Maria. The Argentinian player, who promised so much, hasn´t even scored a goal in an official game for Benfica. Maybe the fact that he was given Simão´s number put too much pressure on him. Either way, we can still expect good things from him considering how young he is. But young players do not tend to develop well at Benfica. The surprise for this game was that Camacho kept Di Maria in the game for a full 80 minutes. For a player that was having such a bad game, 80 minutes is way too much time. There were options on the bench.
Who didn´t seem to be on the bench was Camacho. I don´t think the Spanish coach got up from his chair more than once during the whole game to give the players instructions. For those of us that knew Camacho from when he was with the Spanish National team, and from his previous stint at Benfica, this is clearly a different Camacho.
Luckily for Benfica, Sporting also tied, with a last minute goal by Academica. So for now the second place is safe, but for how long is anyone´s guess.
How bad are things going to get? Only time will tell.
