Benfica 4, Aston Villa 1: Mat Kendrick's pre-season match verdict

Aug 2 2010

VILLA were more concerned about their own creaking defence after failing to stop Benfica’s devastating defence of the Guadiana Cup last night.

The Portuguese champions retained their crown with a convincing 4-1 victory which made them clear winners of the triangular tournament.

But Carlos Cuellar’s hamstring strain added injury to insult as Martin O’Neill’s men departed the Algarve on the brink of a defensive crisis this morning.

The Spaniard joins James Collins, who has a calf problem, on the treatment table leaving Villa down to just two fit senior centre-halves with the Premier League season 12 days away.

Villa insist Cuellar was taken off as a precaution and are hopeful the former Rangers favourite’s problem is not too severe.

But O’Neill could do without the headache of arguably his strongest department being understaffed at a time when he is keen to strengthen other areas of his squad.

It is a similar situation to when they returned from the Peace Cup a year ago – only back then at least they had some pre-season silverware to slightly soften the blow.

Last summer there was a hint of Curtis Davies’ injury woes when he dislocated his shoulder during Villa’s triumph in the tournament in Spain and despite starting the season he then suffered a long lay-off. But the transfer-listed defender might yet benefit from Cuellar and Collins’ troubles with Richard Dunne the only other available experienced centre-back.

However, Davies was powerless to prevent Benfica roaring into a 3-0 half-time lead. Villa ran into pumped up opponents who were motivated further by an excitable stadium announcer and a partisan home crowd.

As well as lifting the Guadiana Cup last year, Benfica also won their domestic league and made the Europa League quarter-finals where they were knocked out by Liverpool.

So Villa knew they were in for a competitive encounter against high pedigree opponents whose up and at em approach was more ‘frenzied’ than ‘friendly.

The claret and blues have gradually increased their fitness throughout their practice matches – but they were up against a team who seemed half a yard faster.

There was also the matter of the Jabulani – the controversial ball from the World Cup – which, having helped Marc Albrighton and Steve Sidwell score belters against Feyenoord, kept whizzing into Villa’s net last night.

Although, David Luis’ low long-range 11th minute opener, after the Benfica defender out-muscled Nathan Delfouneso inside Villa’s half, owed more to a massive deflection than the lightness of the ball.