Today at 2:45 p.m. ET, Benfica and Olympiakos square off in UEFA Champions League Group C action live from Estadio da Luz in Portugal. The game can be live streamed here.
Benfica midfielder Nemanja Matic stressed the importance of the team finding a way to return to winning in the Champions League starting with today's game against Olympiakos. Benfica won its Group C opener against Anderlecht but lost 3-0 at Paris St. Germain in their last game. These teams enter today's game level with three points apiece, but Benfica (-1) has a worse goal-differential than Olympiakos (0).
"We are going to give everything we can to beat Olympiacos," Matic told Benfica TV. "This game is very important and we cannot fail. It's going to be a difficult match because Olympiakos are a good side, but we will be ready for them."
Benfica, under Jorge Jesus, are currently enjoying a six-game unbeaten streak in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, with its latest win coming over Estoril 2-1.
Olympiakos bounced back from a 4-1 loss at home at the hands of PSG in its Group C opener to defeat Anderlecht 3-0 two weeks ago.
The Greeks, under head coach Michel are hoping for some success out of this double-header with Benfica, as the two sides play today and then again on Nov. 5.
"We need to get at least two more wins in order to progress to the next round," Michel told the team's website. "In order for that to happen, we need to work very hard and remain humble."
Kostas Mitroglou netted a hat trick at Anderlecht and looks to lead the charge with former Benfica forward Javier Saviola, who Matic notes the team needs to keep an eye on.
"He is a great man and a fantastic player," Matic said via ESPN. "We will have to keep a close eye on him. We are friends, but we will have to leave our friendship to one side as I plan to give my best to win on Wednesday."
Both of these tightly contested teams look to seek some much needed points when they hit the pitch this afternoon.
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