Reds Trio Set For Lisbon Return

Manchester United's UEFA Champions League campaign resumes on Wednesday night with a trip to Lisbon to face Benfica.

After comfortable wins over FC Basel and CSKA Moscow, the Reds will be hoping to maintain an impressive 100 per cent start in Group A in the first match of a double header against the Portuguese champions, who will visit Old Trafford on 31 October.

The game at the Estadio da Luz will evoke memories for three Reds in particular, as boss Jose Mourinho, defender Victor Lindelof and midfielder Nemanja Matic return to their former club.

Here, we take a closer look at the trio's spells at Benfica at various stages in their careers...

JOSE MOURINHO

Even before arriving at Old Trafford in the summer of 2016, the United boss had been in charge of several top European clubs, including Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid. But his successful managerial career began in his home country when the opportunity to take his first step into management arose at Benfica. After acting as assistant manager at Porto and Barcelona under Sir Bobby Robson and former United boss Louis van Gaal respectively, Mourinho fulfilled the same role at the Portuguese giants, until he replaced current Bayern Munich head coach Jupp Heynckes at the helm just a month into the 2000/01 season after the club had made their worst start to a league campaign since 1934/35.

Aided by right-hand man and former Benfica defender Carlos Mozer, Mourinho enjoyed a good run with six wins in his first 11 games, including a 3-0 victory over fierce rivals Sporting Lisbon. But, less than two months after taking the post, a change at the top saw Manuel Vilarinho elected as the club's new president and he opted to bring in ex-Benfica player Toni as his new coach. However, Vilarinho later admitted that he regretted his decision and expressed frustration at losing Mourinho. It won't be the first time he will have returned to the Portuguese capital in a football capacity, having brought his Real Madrid team to play Benfica in a Eusebio Cup match during pre-season in 2012. This time around, the boss has already pinpointed Benfica as United's main opponents in Group A, despite the Portuguese side losing both of their opening two matches, and will no doubt be looking forward to returning to the place where his journey to become one of the world’s best coaches began. He also has a good record when it comes to beating former clubs – one he'll be hoping to continue across the next two Champions League matches.

VICTOR LINDELOF

The Reds' centre-back began his career at his hometown club Vasteras SK but it was during his six years at Benfica where he made a name for himself. Arriving in the Portuguese capital as a 17-year-old in 2011, Lindelof initially had to earn an opportunity to prove his credentials by representing the club at youth and B levels. He made his first-team debut in a Portuguese Cup tie in September 2013 and went on to establish himself as first choice at the heart of the defence. Such was his impressive form, the departures of Ezequiel Garay and Raphael Varane weren't keenly felt as Lindelof enhanced his reputation as an excellent reader of the game and a tough tackler. Earning the nickname ‘Iceman’ for his ice-cool displays at the back, he helped Benfica win three Portuguese top-flight titles and performed well on the European stage, scoring two goals in 73 appearances for the club in total. After his dream move to Old Trafford in the summer, Lindelof will be making his first return to the club which gave him the platform to develop into a top player and will undoubtedly look back on his time at the club with great fondness.

NEMANJA MATIC

His influential performances as a defensive shield in the engine room have been one of the highlights of United's start to the season and it was during his three-year stint at Benfica where his transformation from playmaker to anchorman first took place. Sandwiched in between his two spells at Chelsea, Matic joined the Lisbon giants in a swap deal with David Luiz in January 2011, just a few months before Lindelof arrived. He quickly became an integral member of the team and the go-to midfield man for boss Jorge Jesus, with his performances in 2012/13 earning him the Player of the Year award in the Portuguese top-flight and helping Benfica reach the Europa League final, where they narrowly lost to his old club Chelsea. Despite only featuring in the first half of the 2013/14 season, he played his part in Benfica's league and cup double with three goals in 22 games, before Mourinho took him back to Stamford Bridge. Overall, the Serbian was one shy of a century of appearances for the club, scoring nine goals, but proved he had what it takes to succeed at the top level after struggling to make an impression in his first spell at Chelsea. Wednesday's European clash will also represent Matic's first reunion with Benfica since leaving the club and he is sure to receive a warm welcome from the passionate Portuguese patrons.