15 September 2011
Combined, Pablo Aimar, Javier Saviola and Nicolás Gaitán measure just 509cms.
Yet their worth to Benfica is far greater.
Their Portuguese Primeira Liga team is South American to its core, with eight of Jorge Jesus’ 10 starting outfield players against Vitória de Guimarães on September 10 hailing from Latin America.
The whole back four is South American, from captain Luisao of Brazil and central partner Argentine Ezequiel Garay to Uruguayan Maxi Pereira and another Brazilian in Emerson providing drive from full back.
But it is when the Jesus’ side attacks that Benfica’s South American influence is strongest against Guimarães at the impressive Estadio da Luz, where Argentines Saviola and Gaitán play off the feet of towering Paraguay front man Oscar Cardozo.
Of similar build and style and appearing to visit the same barber, Saviola and Gaitán could pass as brothers from afar.
That hardly accounts for the ESP that seems to exist between the two who, part of a fluid Benfica formation, are the busiest of bees in a hive of activity.
Now 29, Saviola’s touch has not deserted him in his travails around Europe’s top leagues. His feather-light trap inside the box from a Gaitan touch in the first half hardly raises an eyebrow from Benfica’s fans, perhaps because it was as understated as a black suit at a funeral.
Saviola snaps at every opportunity like a cat chasing a loose thread, and it is his persistence – bundled over stupidly by Mahamadou N’Diaye after 32 minutes – that won Benfica their first penalty of the game.
Less advanced and with Guimarães employing a defensive approach, Gaitán finds it tougher to receive the ball in space, but he remains a constant threat with his intelligent running and desire to push forward.
Saviola was withdrawn in the 60th minute for countryman Aimar, who Benfica take a softly, softly approach to in order to maximize his output.
Aimar and Saviola may never hit the heights of previous stints with Valencia and Barcelona respectively, but they are firm favourites among Benfica’s fans – and for good reason.
Mop-haired Aimar does not seem to share the same intimate relationship with the aforementioned barber as Saviola, though the two have the same energy and eye for a pass.
It is a shame that they did not share the same pitch on the night, but Aimar wasted little time in picking up where Saviola leaves off.
Soon after Guimarães pull a goal back to make it 2-1, his crafted pass sent Gaitán through, and the latter’s goal-bound shot is only kept out by a superb stop by Guimaraes goalkeeper Nilsom.
The efforts of the Aimar, Saviola and Gaitán demonstrate that, in the world game, size matters little.
It is a lesson that could be heeded by Cardozo.
Towering he may be but, against Guimaraes at least, the Paraguayan is the weak link to Benfica’s attack.
At 192cm, his penchant for being out-headed by smaller Guimarães opponents is more down to his questionable attitude than his ability.
Despite having hit 104 goals in 168 appearances for Benfica, Cardozo is often a figure of frustration among the club’s fans.
Cardozo’s brace from the penalty spot – having missed the second of the three penalties he takes on the night – is the sum of his contribution in the 2-1 win, and he is the subject of whistles when his misplaced passes and clunky touches begin to stack up as the game draws to a close.
Capable of often seeming disinterested or downright sullen, he would do well to emulate the approach of his Argentinian team-mates.
Inferior in height they may well be, but what they lack in size they more than make up for in will.
Because while it is Cardozo’s two goals that hand Benfica the victory, it is Aimar, Gaitán and Saviola who win the applause.
That, more than centimetres, is a measure of their worth to their team.
by Paddy Higgs
