Benfica dreams of a miracle. Can they succeed at Anfield like they did in 2006?

Benfica will play Liverpool tonight for a place in the Champions League semi-finals. The favourite is obvious, but the Portuguese side should not be underestimated. Moreover, in Lisbon they are nostalgic about 2006.

The Portuguese side reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League against Ajax Amsterdam. At this stage of the competition, however, Benfica faced a tougher opponent when they met England’s Liverpool.

They failed to win their first match on home soil, losing 1: 3, but they certainly did not disgrace themselves. She even earned praise from German coach Jürgen Klopp.

Now Benfica will play at the famous Anfield and their progress is not counted on. However, the fans are not giving up hope, on the contrary. They are nostalgic about the 2005/06 season.

Back then, the Portuguese big club and the English one met in the eighth-finals, but it was Benfica who managed to win both matches. In the first match they won 1-0 on home soil, scored one more goal at Anfield and comfortably advanced.

Players like Nuno Gomes, Simao, Petit, Luisao played for Benfica and the team was coached by the then still talented Ronald Koeman. The goals were scored by Luisao, Simao and Fabrizio Miccoli.

Liverpool’s squad included Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Robbie Fowler, Fernando Morientes and Djibril Cisse.

Can Benfica pull off a miracle? Even years ago, its success was not counted on. Yet it went on.

Source: UEFA, Benfica