While it is customary to say that at this stage of the Champions League there are no more “small” teams, Liverpool fans certainly preferred to face Benfica than Bayern, Manchester City or Real Madrid in quarterfinal. Admittedly, the Portuguese defeated Ajax Amsterdam in the previous round, but without producing a spectacular performance. In any case, without building a solid outsider status, as the Amsterdammers were able to do in 2019, or Monaco in 2013.
Jürgen Klopp, without being falsely modest, did not however show himself to be overly confident at a press conference. “It’s a team that likes to play, ready to take risks” he analyzed. He also mentioned a name in particular, which will make him particularly tremble on Tuesday evening (9 p.m.). That of Darwin Nuñez, 22, Uruguayan and Eagles striker. “We’ll make sure he doesn’t touch the ball too much“promised the German technician.
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All the qualities of the modern striker
Because Klopp knows it, in this kind of meeting that Benfica has little chance of dominating technically, it is, among other things, from an individual exploit that the danger can come. And Nuñez is more than capable of it. Already because the young Lisbon phenomenon is in full swing this season with his 21 goals and three assists in 23 league matches. Then because his qualities and his enthusiasm are those of a boy who can turn a difficult match upside down.
Darwin Nunez scored against Barcelona with Benfica
Credit: Getty Images
Tom Kundert, founder of the Portugoal site and keen follower of Lusitanian football, is full of praise for the talented game: “He’s a great striker (1.87m, editor’s note), active and energetic, with fantastic acceleration and good technical ability, he explains. He can play across the front line, he’s good in the air, and he’s an outstanding penalty taker.”
Despite his imposing physique, he has what it takes to blow up defenders in the first few meters and quickly reach a good top speed. Jordi Alba still remembers it. In the group stage, during the first leg against Barça, Nuñez first dropped the Blaugrana defense on a deep appeal, before putting the Spanish left-back at bay thanks to a stepover and beating Marc-André ter Stegen with a cross shot at the end of the race.
An action that sums up its qualities quite well, even if it should not be stereotyped. The Uruguayan sometimes likes to move on the wings, go for interesting combinations, play one-on-one or put himself in a position to deliver an assist. He has what it takes to become a very good “modern” striker. Especially since the mind seems to follow.
Present when needed
He may be young, but this year’s major events did not scare him. Double scorer against Barça, scorer against Bayern and author of the decisive goal against Ajax, he was always present when necessary. Enough to catch the eye of bigger fish than Benfica.
And even if he is growing fast – he already has nine selections with the A of Uruguay and some see him as the next Cavani -, for Tom Kundert, Nuñez has some similar qualities but is not comparable to an Erling Haaland 2.0 . Sometimes the author of a few bad choices, able to rush when approaching the opposing cage and occasionally showing a lack of finesse, the former Almeria player still has room for improvement. “Ideally, I think another season in Portugal would do him good, assures Kundert. For him to truly become the main man at the club and refine his finishing“.
Darwin Nunez and Edinson Cavani with Uruguay
Credit: Getty Images
But several clubs have taken it into their heads to polish this “raw” talent into a jewel. Arsenal and West Ham would already be in the running, and Barcelona had already shown keen interest in 2020. The Lisbon club, fully aware that it will be very hard to retain such a striker when the sirens of Europe are singing, has already fixed its price: it will be 80M€ or nothing. Perhaps a bit exaggerated for a 22-year-old striker who has yet to win anything on the old continent. But to hit big, you have to claim big. And then what better to raise the stakes than a brilliant performance against Liverpool in the final rounds of the finest of European competitions?
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