Long time no see - Trashtalkers Mourinho and Conte back in the ring

The career of Jose Mourinho is on the decline. This summer, he was fired in Istanbul after failing for the second consecutive time to lead Fenerbahce into the Champions League. Somewhat surprisingly, he arrived at the Luz, where 25 years ago he began his rich and successful adventure on the bench.

“Mr. Special” has not impressed during these three months in charge of Benfica. He stabilized the team after the early stumbles last summer under Bruno Lage, but Porto has pulled well ahead in the Portuguese championship, and reaching a place among the top 24 in the Champions League will be difficult.

After four consecutive losses in Europe’s elite competition, Benfica finally defeated Ajax in Amsterdam 2–0 last week, keeping at least some hope of finishing in the top 24 and reaching the knockout stage. A win is imperative for Mourinho’s side tonight (23:00) in Lisbon against Napoli.

The Italian champions are not shining in the Champions League this season either, sitting only in 22nd place. It will be a clash of old acquaintances from both the Premier League and Serie A: Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho. The team from Naples is on a run of five straight wins in all competitions and won the big Apennine derby against Juventus 2–1 over the weekend.

Benfica, meanwhile, only drew (1–1) on Friday at the Luz against Sporting in the Lisbon derby, and still sits eight points behind Primeira Liga leaders Porto. The Eagles had two more days of rest compared to Napoli, and the Italian champions also face a grueling trip of almost 2,800 kilometers from the Pyrenees, so the hosts should be the fresher side.

Mourinho will likely start with the same lineup he used against Ajax and Sporting. Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis will lead the line, with Bareiro and Aursnes operating behind him, while the midfield conductor will be the team’s only scorer in the Lisbon derby five days ago — Ukrainian Georgiy Sudakov, the major summer signing from Shakhtar.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Matchday 6

Tuesday

Kairat Almaty - Olympiacos 0-1 (0-0)

/Martins 73/

Bayern Munich - Sporting Lisbon 3-1 (0-0)

/Gnabry 65, Karl 69, Tah 77 - Kimmich 54 (og)/

Atalanta - Chelsea 2-1 (0-1)

/Scamacca 55, De Ketelaere 83 - Pedro 25/

Barcelona - Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 (0-1)

/Knauff 21, Kounde 50, 53/

Inter Milan - Liverpool 0-1 (0-0)

/Szoboszlai 88 pen/

Monaco - Galatasaray 1-0 (0-0)

/Balogun 68/

PSV Eindhoven - Atletico Madrid 2-3 (1-1)

/Til 10, Pepi 85 - Alvarez 37, Hancko 52, Sorloth 56/

St. Gilloise - Olympique Marseille 2-3 (1-2)

/Khalaili 5, 71 - Paixao 15, Greenwood 41, 58/

Tottenham - Slavia Prague 3-0 (1-0)

/Zima 26 og, Kudus 50 pen, Simons 79 pen/

Wednesday

20.45: (2.00) Qarabag (3.60) Ajax (4.00)

20.45: (1.45) Villarreal (4.50) Copenhagen (7.00)

23.00: (5.80) Athletic Bilbao (3.80) PSG (1.62)

23.00: (2.40) Benfica (3.40) Napoli (3.20)

23.00: (10.0) Club Brugge (5.20) Arsenal (1.37)

23.00: (1.28) Borussia Dortmund (6.00) Bodo/Glimt (9.50)

23.00: (1.18) Juventus (7.25) Pafos (15.0)

23.00: (3.10) Bayer Leverkusen (3.50) Newcastle (2.40)

23.00: (2.55) Real Madrid (3.85) Manchester City (2.65)

***odds are subject to change***