Chelsea FC takes on SL Benfica in UEFA Europa League Final
The
42nd cup competition in Europe's prestigious annual tournament
featuring the best - performing football clubs of the European football
season is coming to a close as Chelsea FC and SL Benfica collide at the
Amsterdam Arena for the 2012 - 13 UEFA Europa League Finals on May 15.
That's right, it's going to be Chelsea going up against the Benfiquistas
as the Blues look to become only the fourth team to capture all three
major titles that UEFA has to offer.
Chelsea FC, listed by Ladbrokes at 2.60 and Bet365 at 2.75
to beat Benfica, head to the match - up looking to win the UEFA Europa
League and capture all three of UEFA's big European tournaments after
winning the European Cup for the first time in the history of their club
last season, beating the German football giants, FC Bayern Munich, in
the 2011 - 12 UEFA Champions League Final. Their first taste of UEFA
silverware was way back in 1971, when the Blues won the UEFA Cup
Winners' Cup, which they would capture again in 1998. Since then, the
Blues suffered a dry spell of UEFA titles, until last year when they won
the Champions League for the first time.
Winning the
2012 - 13 UEFA Europa League will give Chelsea all three major cups of
the UEFA, letting them join an elite group of football clubs who have
already captured the UEFA trifecta in these wars waged on the grand
stage of European football. The three teams referred to here are AFC
Ajax, Juventus, and FC Bayern Munich, each side more than capable of
winning more UEFA titles in the years to come, and if the Blues can beat
Benfica at the Amsterdam Arena on May 16 to win this year's Europa
League Final, they'll have the privilege of being included in the same
sphere with this distinguished group of champions looked up to by
football teams in all of Europe.
And fortunately for the Blues, they are already familiar with their foes for May 16. SL Benfica, listed by SBOBET at 2.72
and BetVictor at 2.63 to beat Chelsea FC in the 2012 - 13 UEFA Europa
League Final, head into another match - up with the English side
following their two - legged clash last season in the Champions League
quarter - finals. Chelsea won both legs, beating Benfica 1 - 0 in front
of the Benfiquistas' supporters at the Estadio da Luz before wrapping up
their two - game affair with a 2 - 1 victory at Stamford Bridge in the
second leg to win the quarter - finals on aggregate, 3 - 1, moving
forward en route to their first successful run in the UEFA Champions
League. Having beaten SL Benfica on the grand stage of the Champions
League twice, the Blues are expected to beat the Benfiquistas again and
accomplish the UEFA trifecta by winning the Europa League Final on May
16.
Perhaps nobody from the Blues know SL Benfica
better than Chelsea midfielder Ramires Santos do Nascimento, the
Brazilian standout who was playing for the Portuguese side before
deciding to make the move for Stamford Bridge in August 2010 for an
estimated sum of £17 million.
''We work hard in order
to win titles. We're in the final and will face an opponent we know
about. We played Benfica twice in last season's Champions League; they
were two difficult games. We know it won't be easy but we have what it
takes to win,'' Chelsea midfielder Ramires said. ''I've been supporting
Benfica throughout the competition, but on the pitch I will of course
give my all for Chelsea. I have a lot of affection for Benfica, it's a
special feeling to face them, but we will play to win.''
And
play to win they will indeed, especially with the way they were booted
out of this year's tournament for the European Cup. In case you didn't
know, Chelsea suffered a premature exit from the UEFA Champions League
this season, so much so that as soon as they were knocked out of the
competition, the Blues wanted another crack at a European final right
away. The 2012 - 13 UEFA Europa League gave them the opportunity and it
didn't take long for Chelsea to take advantage of it.
''After
being knocked out of the Champions League we wanted to play in another
European final, we have shown everyone who thought we wouldn't take it
seriously that we are prepared to fight for the competition,'' Chelsea
striker Fernando Torres said in an interview. ''It's important for the
club as we can become the first team to win the two trophies in a row,
we are in the final now so we have one more step to go.''
The
Europa League may lack the same level of prestige that the UEFA
Champions League brings but since the Blues have a chance to make
history and become only the fourth team in European football to have all
three of UEFA's titles, you just know the Blues are just salivating to
win this thing.
Bet on the 2012 - 13 UEFA Europa League
Final between SL Benfica and Chelsea FC now at BetVictor, Bet365,
Ladbrokes and SBOBET, the best places in online betting where one wallet
means endless possibilities and never-ending fun.
 -vs- Benfica){kind=link}
0 comments:
Post a Comment