American teenager Freddy Adu could make his debut in European football on Tuesday when Benfica host Danish side FC Copenhagen in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.
The 18-year-old will be on the bench for the Portuguese outfit after being
named in a 19-man squad for the first-leg tie following his 1.5million move
from Real Salt Lake in July.
Adu has long been hailed as a prodigy in the States, and despite his tender
years Benfica coach Fernando Santos believes he has all the attributes to
succeed in Europe.
'If the player has been named, it's because he's got the quality to be in the
squad,' Santos said.
'He's a player who has great potential with a brilliant future. But he's been
training with us only a few days, so naturally there will be an integration
process.'
Strikers Oscar Cardozo and Nuno Gomes have also been declared fit and should
play for the Lisbon-based side.
Elsewhere, a host of big names face potential banana skins in this week's
first-leg outings as they attempt to qualify to the Champions league proper.
Last year's beaten finalists Liverpool face a trip to French side Toulouse
while reigning two-time UEFA Cup champions Sevilla host Greek outfit AEK Athens
on Wednesday.
Lazio host Dynamo Bucharest on Tuesday, the same night that Valencia come up
against Swedish team Elfsborg.
The Spaniards will be the favourites to progress to the next round but striker
David Villa is refusing to take anything for granted with the Swedish
Allsvenskan already under way and the Primera Liga campaign yet to begin.
'We only think about playing in the next round of the Champions League,' he
told club website.
'But we have to demonstrate on the pitch that we are a better team and that
we really want to qualify.
'Our opponent has a better physical condition but we will try to counteract
this with other things. Valencia has to defeat the Swedish team.'
