césar peixoto says sl benfica "had the quality to do better" in the uefa champions league as he set his sights on overcoming fc schalke 04 and reaching the uefa europa league.
césar peixoto says "winning is all that matters" for sl benfica as they attempt to secure a place in the uefa europa league round of 32 by defeating fc schalke 04.
though an impressive performance would be welcome against the uefa champions league group b leaders, emerging victorious and thereby not relying on hapoel tel-aviv fc failing to beat olympique lyonnais in the other match is the only thing occupying the defender's thoughts. "winning is all that matters now," said peixoto, who expressed some regret at the way benfica's campaign has developed.
"we're playing for pride and to achieve a place in the europa league," the 30-year-old former fc porto and sc braga player added. "we are a bit sad because we expected more and we know that we had the quality to do better in this competition, but the europa league is a good tournament and we want to be there."
schalke were 2-0 winners against fc bayern münchen on saturday, their third victory in five league games an indication that felix magath's team are beginning to find their feet and finally display the form which has propelled them to the section summit. "we'll come up against an excellent team, whose position in the bundesliga doesn't show their quality," warned peixoto. "they have a world-class attack with excellent players who are known worldwide, but with our qualities, and in front of our fans, we can win."
peixoto has played four times in the group stage but has not been a regular in the liga, featuring in eight of benfica's 13 matches. "there were times that i played more and now i am playing less, but it's not me who decides," he added. "there's rotation in the team but the most important thing is to win and rediscover the winning habit that we are all used to."
whereas benfica are out, schalke are through and will top the section provided they match lyon's result. doing so would be a boost to their chances of climbing away from trouble in the bundesliga, according to benedikt höwedes. "a victory will be very important because we want to win the group and it will also be a boost for our domestic campaign," said the 22-year-old defender, who struck his first goal of the season during the weekend win. "we have potential, like we showed against bayern. it's hard to say who the favourites are because both teams are strong."
strikes from josé manuel jurado and benedikt höwedes helped schalke win the section while a late goal in lyon salvaged third place for benfica.
fc schalke 04 secured top spot in uefa champions league group b with a 2-1 win against sl benfica after an assured display in lisbon.
a goal in each half from josé manuel jurado and benedikt höwedes secured the gelsenkirchen club's first ever win in portugal, and despite luisão's late consolation, felix magath's side head into the last 16 in good spirits. for the hosts, olympique lyonnais' late equaliser against hapoel tel-aviv fc at least meant jorge jesus' men finished third and picked up the section's uefa europa league spot.
benfica pressed from the off as they sought to finish their group campaign on a high. fábio coentrão's fine run down the left led to him finding óscar cardozo in the penalty area, but the paraguay striker scooped over. shortly after it was the turn of the full-back on the opposite side to create danger, with maxi pereira surging forward and crossing for javier saviola, who hammered wide of the near post.
by the 19th minute the home side were boasting over two-thirds of possession, but schalke took the lead with their first attack. ivan rakitić's cross was intelligently chested back by raúl gonzález and jurado hit a left-foot shot into the top right-hand corner of roberto's net.
magath's side gained in confidence after the goal and took control with their fluid front line of raúl, jurado and klaas-jan huntelaar causing problems with their movement. saviola did have the ball in the net four minutes before half-time when carlos martins' shot deflected to him, but he was offside.
coach jesus made a double change at the interval, with nicolás gaitán and pablo aimar coming on in an attempt to give benfica more cutting edge. yet schalke quickly showed their potential on the counterattack and only a superbly timed sliding challenge from ruben amorim kept rakitić at bay. peer kluge came even closer on 55 minutes, beautifully controlling raúl's lofted pass but cushioning his shot agonisingly wide of the post.
with hapoel now winning in france, benfica and aimar came desperately close as the argentinian beat neuer, but also the post, from a martins pass. höwedes extinguished portuguese hopes with nine minutes to go, collecting kluge's header from rakitić's corner and sweeping home. luisão's 87th-minute header nearly initiated a late fightback, with david luiz hitting the post in added time, but the visitors held on for a deserved win.
