Miccoli knock hits Benfica chances
Thursday, August 3, 2006
Article summary
SL Benfica could take on FK Austria Wien next week without Fabrizio Miccoli after the Italian striker sustained a thigh muscle injury in pre-season.
Article body
SL Benfica could take on FK Austria Wien next week without Fabrizio Miccoli after the Italian striker sustained a thigh muscle injury in pre-season action.
Memorable run
The 27-year-old, who has extended his loan from Juventus, was a key man in Benfica's run to last season's UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, scoring twice in six games, but may be unable to help them as they try to return to the competition proper by defeating FK Austria. The Portuguese club travel to Vienna for the third qualifying round first leg on Tuesday, before the return is played in Lisbon on 23 August.
De Brito mourned
Meanwhile, Benfica are mourning the death of former president Jorge de Brito at the age of 79. A respected figure in Portuguese football, De Brito was president of the Lisbon side between 1992 and 1994. His Benfica connections dated back to 1935 and a measure of his standing is that training was cancelled today to allow the squad to attend his funeral.
