The event is marked by the curiosity to see the return to
Da Luz stadium three former players now playing Lisbon side in the Russian
combined: the central Argentine Ezequiel Garay, Javi GarcÃa pivot the Spanish
and Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel.
All of them participated in the service of the
"eagles" in the last antecedent between them in the knockout round of
the Champions League 2011-2012 season, when the Portuguese made it through to
the next phase with a 4-3 aggregate.
The duel will face to face with billionaire Zenit Benfica
that focuses on recruiting young talent as a strategy to try to get as far as
possible in the continental showpiece.
In front of his fans, coach lisboetas Jorge Jesus will
bring an eleven predictably very similar to that used in the league on Friday,
with excellent results: 0-5 win against Vitória de Setúbal.
The footballer, 20, seems to be the one to fill the gap
left by the Spanish Rodrigo with his move to Valencia. Del Turia team just
comes the latest addition Benfica fellow striker Jonas, but may not participate
in the group stage of the Champions League for not arriving in time to be
registered.
With respect to the starting rate of last year, Jorge
Jesus has introduced slight changes with the arrival of Samaris to accompany
Argentine Enzo Pérez in midfield and Eliseu to occupy the left channel.
Zenit, led by the Portuguese Andre Villas Boas, travels
willing to avenge one of his bugbears, Benfica, where he alighted in the
knockout stages of the Champions League in the 2011-12 season.
To increase the curiosity, the star of the team of the
former Czarist capital is the Brazilian Hulk, former footballer of Oporto,
Lisbon's bitter enemy squad. Villas Boas won the league and UEFA with 'dragoes'
before joining Chelsea.