SOCCER-CHAMPIONS/BENFICA Benfica prepare to open their Champions League campaign against Astana

Record ID: 141087

  • Title: SOCCER-CHAMPIONS/BENFICA Benfica prepare to open their Champions League campaign against Astana
  • Date: 14th September 2015
  • Summary: SEIXAL, PORTUGAL (SEPTEMBER 14, 2015) (REUTERS) BENFICA COACH RUI VITORIA WALKING ON TO PITCH BENFICA FORWARD KOSTAS MITROGLOU BENFICA PLAYERS WALKING ON TO PITCH PLAYERS LISTENING TO COACH VARIOUS OF PLAYERS STRETCHING RUI VITORIA DURING TRAINING SESSION (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BENFICA COACH, RUI VITORIA, SAYING: "We want to start the Champions League well, we want to win now the first three points. Our goal is match by match but of course naturally we want to win and go through the group stage, we know it won't be easy but with this ambition and will it's a different competition. We are playing at home, we want to start well knowing that it will be a difficult match against a team that also wants to win." VARIOUS OF BENFICA PLAYERS WARMING UP (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BENFICA COACH, RUI VITORIA, SAYING: "Tomorrow it will be a difficult match but we have the capacity to win, we want to win. With the utmost respect to the Astana squad you will hear me say that we want to win against Astana as when we face Galatasaray or Atletico Madrid, I will think the same way playing home or away. This ambition and strong will to win and be one of the two first of the group is a big ambition that we have and we will do everything to reach it." BENFICA MIDFIELDER NICOLAS GAITAN VARIOUS OF PLAYERS EXERCISING WITH BALL (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) NELSON SEMEDO, BENFICA PLAYER, SAYING: "It's a great competition and all players dream of playing in this competition and I'm not an exception, it's a big dream being here and if I play tomorrow I will try to enjoy it." PLAYERS TRAINING WITH BALL BENFICA GOALKEEPER JULIO CESAR PLAYERS WITH BALL NICOLAS GAITAN VARIOUS OF TRAINING
  • Embargoed: 29th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Portugal
  • Country: Portugal
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAC868ONH2DWXJ1KNZ0UVU77SPZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Benfica prepared on Monday (September 14) at their training ground in Seixal ahead of first Champions League Group C match against debutantes from Kazakhstan Astana.
    As with the opponents Benfica coach Rui Vitoria will also be making his debut in the Champions League and expects a tough match.
    "We want to start the Champions League well, we want to win now the first three points. Our goal is match by match but of course naturally we want to win and go through the group stage, we know it won't be easy but with this ambition and will it's a different competition. We are playing at home, we want to start well knowing that it will be a difficult match against a team that also wants to win," he said.
    Although Benfica are appearing in the Champions League group stage for the 11th time they have only made it through to the knockout stage twice.
    Vitoria told reporters his side will do everything in their power to qualify from the group.
    "Tomorrow it will be a difficult match but we have the capacity to win, we want to win. With the utmost respect to the Astana squad you will hear me say that we want to win against Astana as when we face Galatasaray or Atletico Madrid, I will think the same way playing home or away. This ambition and strong will to win and be one of the two first of the group is a big ambition that we have and we will do everything to reach it," he said.
    Full back Nelson Semedo, who hopes to play his first Champions league game on Tuesday, says appearing in the competition would be a dream come true.
    "It's a great competition and all players dream of playing in this competition and I'm not an exception, it's a big dream being here and if I play tomorrow I will try to enjoy it," he said.
    Last year Benfica finished bottom of their group with five points.
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