roberto's sole uefa competition outing with club atlético de madrid lasted 26 minutes and now the newly signed sl benfica goalkeeper is looking to bounce back against hapoel tel-aviv fc.
it has not been an easy start for goalkeeper roberto since his arrival at sl benfica, but the start of their uefa champions league campaign against hapoel tel-aviv fc offers a personal chance for redemption.
a year ago roberto, having rejoined club atlético de madrid after a season with rc recreativo de huelva, was given his uefa competition debut on matchday 2 at fc porto. just 26 minutes in, with the game goalless, roberto was forced off through injury. his team went on to lose 2-0, and roberto was never to play for atlético again, being loaned to real zaragoza in january before his €8.5m summer switch to the portuguese champions.
however, his start with benfica has been fraught opening with – coincidentally – a 2-0 super cup loss to porto. on friday, they went down 2-1 at vitoria sc, the eagles' third loss by that scoreline in just four liga matches. but as he prepared to face group stage debutants hapoel on tuesday, roberto said: "we are talking about different competitions, match preparation is different and our opponents' approach is also different. we have to believe in what we are doing here because that's the only way to have confidence in the future."
benfica have been absent from the uefa champions league for the last two seasons, and roberto, having had a taste of the competition last year, knows how important taking part is to the two-time european titleholders. "it's very important for our team to be in this competition," the 24-year-old said. "by being here it proves the class and greatness of this club and it's natural that fans are happy about it."
only once in benfica's previous five group campaigns have they begun at home, and it proved a lucky omen as they defeated losc lille métropole on their way to the 2005/06 quarter-finals. but roberto does not expect hapoel to be pushovers in group b. "we know that they are a tough team playing well in their country, that's the reason they are here," the former spain under-21 goalkeeper said. "still, we are focused on our job and that's winning this match."
although it has not been an easy introduction to lisbon for roberto, he remains upbeat despite the pressure of being the most expensive goalkeeper ever bought by a portuguese club, indeed in the top ten worldwide. "the important thing now is to train well, feel confident and keep my head in order not to make another mistake," roberto added. "i have always felt confident: the club and my team-mates believe in me. i am the same keeper that played in spain."
goals from luisão and óscar cardozo won the day in lisbon despite the best efforts of visiting no1 vincent enyeama.
sl benfica made a winning return to the uefa champions league group stage after a two-season absence with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over competition debutants hapoel tel-aviv fc.
jorge jesus' side were often stymied by an inspired vincent enyeama, but goals in either half by luisão and óscar cardozo ensured that the eagles will travel to fc schalke 04 on matchday 2 in good spirits, while hapoel will attempt to get off the mark at home to olympique lyonnais.
pablo aimar stepped out in the uefa champions league in a benfica shirt for the first time and created the game's first clear chance on 14 minutes, carving open the visitors' defence with an incisive through pass, with enyeama spreading himself well to deny cardozo.
at the other end, the lively etey shechter beat fábio coentrão only for his low cross to narrowly evade ben sahar, but that only stung the home side into action. after aimar's 21st minute corner was cleared, carlos martins swung the ball back in and luisão connected beautifully, his right-foot volley spearing past enyeama and into the left-hand corner.
eli gutman's group stage first-timers continued to attack cleverly on the flanks and roberto had to be at his best in the 24th minute to preserve benfica's lead, reaching elastically to claw the ball away after gil vermouth's cross deflected goalwards off javi garcía.
however, aimar and carlos martins spelled danger for hapoel every time they took possession, and enyeama again came to the rescue in the 27th minute after the two combined, with the nigerian blocking aimar after he was freed by martins' pinpoint pass.
hapoel started the second period in bullish style, pushing forward from the off, but cardozo reminded them of benfica's forward potency, looping a header over from nicolás gaitán's cross.
in the 55th minute vermouth guided a chip over the top when well placed, but cardozo almost put the eagles out of sight a minute later, when he poked over from close in after aimar took out two defenders with a mesmerising dribble and set the striker up.
on 68 minutes, cardozo finally got his goal after a flowing end-to-end move. substitute maxi pereira played a clever one-two with ruben amorim, enyeama kept him out again as he surged into the area, but the big paraguayan was on hand to sweep in the loose ball.
