27 July 2018
GETTING OFF TO A FLYER
Juventus started pre-season in the best way possible recording a 2-0 win against Bayern Munich in their opening match at the International Champions Cup in Philadelphia.
Young striker Andrea Favilli found the breakthrough after half an hour of play, when Claudio Marchisio made the most of a sliced Sven Ulrich clearance to play in Favilli, who tapped home to put the Bianconeri ahead. The Pisa native was at the double again just 10 minutes later, when a long ball up from Alex Sandro found Favilli in space and he slotted a cool finish past the Bayern keeper to make it 2-0 and effectively seal the win in the first half.
LAST TIME AGAINST BENFICA
This match is set to be the ninth encounter in all competitions between Benfica and Juventus, with the first meeting between the two coming in the European Cup semi-finals in 1968. Benfica emerged victorious however, winning 2-0 in Lisbon and 0-1 in Turin; the two sides would lock horns in a European semi-final 46 years later in the 2014 Europa League. Unfortunately Benfica were once more the winners, following a 2-1 win at the Estadio da Luz and then a 0-0 draw at the then Juventus Stadium.
The two teams have met twice previously in friendly matches with La Vecchia Signora winning 0-2 in Portugal in 2005 thanks to a wonder strike from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a David Trezeguet finish. The other encounter was a 1-1 draw in Switzerland in 2012 that saw Milos Krasic cancel out an 88th minute Benfica goal in stoppage time.
HOW BENFICA ARE SHAPING UP
After finishing second in the Primeira Liga last season, Benfica have made a number of signings to re-inforce for this upcoming campaign. Their highest profile transfers have arguably been the arrivals of Chilean striker, Nicolas Castillo from Pumas UNAM in Mexico, and Argentine, Facundo Ferreyra from Shakhtar Donetsk. Whilst they also added German goalkeeper, Odisseas Vlachodimos from Panathinaikos.
STADIUM STATS & FACTS
Vs: Benfica (Saturday 28 July, 13:05 EDT local; 19:05 CEST)
Where: Red Bull Arena, New Jersey
Capacity: 25,000
Home team: New York Red Bulls (MLS)
About: Opened in 2010, the Red Bull Arena was built for the purpose of giving New York Red Bulls their own stadium, after they were previously using the Giants Stadium.
The first match to mark the official stadium opening on 20 March 2010 saw the New York Red Bulls play a friendly match against Brazilian team Santos, with the Red Bulls winning 3–1.
In the South Ward stand the team commemorates the first-ever competitive Red Bulls goal scored at the stadium by Joel Lindpere with the "Red Seat". Located in Section 101 to represent the Red Bull Arena's first-ever game, Row 11 to mark the minute of the goal, and seat 20 (Joel Lindpere's number).
On 28 July 2012, the Red Bull Arena hosted the French Super Cup (Trophée des Champions) between Montpellier and Lyon, with the game being won on penalties by Lyon after the match ended 2–2.
