Benfica will face Alverca on Monday at 20h15, and Marco Silva used his pre-match update to offer one of the clearest talking points of the week: Enzo Barrenechea is almost back. The Benfica coach said the midfielder has trained well in the last two or three sessions and believes a return before the end of the year is realistic.
That matters because Barrenechea gives Benfica an important option in a position Silva values for its ability on the ball. With the squad entering a busy stretch, the timing of his recovery could affect selection in the coming matches and give the coach another choice in midfield.
Barrenechea edging closer
Silva was careful not to overstate the timeline, but his message was clearly optimistic. Barrenechea is almost ready, and the staff will continue to monitor him over the next few games. The coach said the player has looked good in training and that Benfica believe he can be back before January, with the hope that he returns before the year is out.
That would be a welcome development for a side that wants more competition and more flexibility in the middle of the pitch. Silva pointed to the importance of having strong options in every role, especially when the schedule does not allow for much training time.
Competition for places remains a theme
Silva also stressed that competition inside the squad is part of Benfica's daily standard. He said Kaminski should understand how competitive the group is, adding that he does not like very large squads unless they are highly demanding internally. In his view, players must feel there is always someone ready to take their place.
That approach has been central to his comments throughout the week. Silva said the team is working on collective behavior, but admitted that limited training time can make it harder to develop those habits. When weeks are clean, he said, it is easier to work on patterns in more detail, but there are also other tools such as video work to help the team prepare.
He added that individual duels remain important, particularly because more teams are defending man-to-man in different phases of the game. For Benfica, that means winning battles across the pitch and not only in the back line.
Rafa and Lukebakio remain separate options
Asked about Rafa and Lukebakio, Silva kept his answer short and made clear that the decision will be left for matchday. He said they are players with completely different characteristics and noted that Rafa made a strong start to the season in a role he had not played for some time. Silva did not create any hierarchy between them, leaving the choice for the game against Alverca.
Alverca, meanwhile, will arrive with young players, technical quality and a setup that Silva said can cause problems. He described the opponent as a team with three center backs and two very attacking fullbacks, then a defensive shape that becomes a back five without the ball. His message was simple: Benfica cannot look at the table and must respect every opponent.
Silva said the team has the obligation to do everything it can to win, and that expectation will remain the same on Monday night. For Benfica, that means focusing on the performance first, while keeping an eye on the growing signs that Barrenechea is nearing a return.
