Belenenses v Fiorentina
UEFA Europa League
We are in Lisbon for the match against Belenenses. We should be careful not to underestimate this team as they have won the league once in 1946 and historical success is something in which teams and players take pride. Belenenses is a team however, in current times, languishing in mid-table. The 15/16 season hasn't started completely well for them. They have had better luck in the Europa League, where they managed to take a 0-0 draw away with them against Lech Poland.
Paulo Sousa returns to his home country to show them how far he has come. In the last few months, he's beaten Barcelona and Real Madrid in friendlies and after a win against Inter, takes his team into European competition as top of the Serie A table. He did however, lose that one match to Basel and strangely for a team that's top of the league, Fiorentina go into the match bottom of the group table.
Sousa has put this match as prime importance. He has placed it above the upcoming league match and added the words "without a doubt".
“In their history Belenenses have always had some difficulties, but were able to overcome them with great results. The statistics show they are as organised and gritty as their Coach.
“We must be aware of what it means to have lost the first game, to come out concentrated to bring home the three points" said Sousa at a press conference.
When asked how he would approach the match, Sousa responded "we must always respect our principles of football, because we want to control the game in order to reach victory, seeing as we didn’t start the Europa League on the right foot. My team is going through a general period of growth".
“It is also special for me to come back home to Portugal and experience a Portuguese stadium atmosphere again".
Belenenses 4-3-3:
Ventura
Gereldes - Brandao - Tonel - Fereira
Andre Sousa - Martins - Pinto
Rosa - Leal - Kuca
Kalinic - Babacar
Illicic
Marcos Alonso - Valero - Badelj - Blasczykowski
Astori - Gonzalo - Tomovic
Tatarasanu
Fiorentina 3-5-2 (Attacking):
This match is at 6pm exactly. That makes for:
1pm Boston, 3am Melbourne and a nice 8pm for Bahrain.
Live on BT Sport Extra.
*Group 9*: Belenenses v Fiorentina