Forward must regain title to find a beloved enemy; SC Braga is one of the teams that scores the most: six goals, four at Luz
Rafa is prepared to enter the scene, this afternoon, against SC_Braga, after not being used, on Monday, against Farense, in the Algarve. The striker, the team’s top scorer with 20 goals in 49 games, should be Arthur Cabral’s support, with Orkun Kokçu retreating to Florentino’s side, considering that João Neves could be spared, as he is recovering from a bruise. on the right eyebrow.
Rafa, 30 years old, is one goal away from equaling the highest scoring season at Benfica — in the 2018/2019 season he scored 21 goals. And he will find what is one of the biggest victims since he arrived in Luz from SC Braga, in the summer of 2016, for €16.8 million, including intermediation services and signing bonus. The striker scored six goals against SC Braga, Sporting, P. Ferreira, Arouca and Famalicão — and of the six goals he scored against the Minho team, four were at the Estádio da Luz. Rafa, in fact, scored in SC Braga’s last three games at Luz — four goals and one assist. This season, it paved the way for the Reds to triumph over the Warriors, 3-2, in the round of 16 of the Portuguese Cup.
Future without news
At the end of his contract, Rafa still does not have a defined future. In February, Rui Costa shared that the striker _«rejected huge proposals and Benfica waived money, risking him leaving for free at the end of the season». He also considered Rafa’s behavior “exemplary”, stressing that “he is having a great season”.
Without advances or setbacks, the situation has remained the same since Rui Costa spoke to Rafa at the beginning of the season. And until the end of the season, it is likely that they will talk about renewing their contract again.
Facts & Curiosities
— With a victory over SC Braga, Benfica guarantees second place, and with it qualification for the Champions League through the qualifying rounds (it will enter directly if Leverkusen wins the Europa League).
— On January 10, Benfica beat SC Braga 3-2, in the round of 16 of the Portuguese Cup. Rafa (42′), Arthur Cabral (45′) and Aursnes (70′) scored for the Eagles and Rodrigo Zalazar (7′ and 48′) for the Minho team.
— In the first round, on December 17th, the Eagles won 1-0 in Braga, with a goal from Tengstedt, in the 3rd minute. It was the last time the Danish striker scored. He has three goals this season.
— Benfica has 52 wins, 12 draws and three defeats in 67 home games with SC Braga for the championship. In the last two receptions, the Eagles won 1-0 and 6-1. But before, the Minho team won twice, 1-0 and 3-2.
— Arthur Cabral scored four goals in four games with SC Braga — one for Benfica and three for Fiorentina, in the play-off access to the round of 16 of the Conference League.
