Aursnes returns to a place that is beginning to feel strange to him

He was signed in 2022 as a midfielder, but has played more at right-back or left wing than Roger Schmidt's two-pivot position. The German coach was forced to make changes against Visela due to penalties for Coccio and Florentino

Frederic Orsnes should be selected to play in a double pivot with Joao Neves in the absence of Orkun Cocchu and Florentino Luis, both of whom are suspended for picking up their fifth yellow card of the season in the 2-2 draw against Guimarães, at Estadio Afonso. Henriques.

This will be a return to the roots, as the Norwegian international was hired specifically for this position, as stated by the club president, Rui Costa, in a recent interview with BTV, on the 9th of this month. “He was appointed as a midfielder, which is the position he has played in at least so far,” he said regarding the €13 million deal with Feyenoord in the summer of 2022.

While it is not entirely true that Orsnes played as a midfielder less than all other positions, it is true to say that Nordique played more times for Benfica as a right-back or left-winger than in his original role. .

The original midfielder was the “fireman” on duty during the Reds' season

It has been in defense where the No.8 has played on most occasions since arriving at Luz, making 24 appearances, the vast majority this season (19), largely due to an injury to Alexandre Bah. “Without exaggeration, for me he was the best right-back this half of the year,” said Rui Costa, who is still talking about this topic, in the same television intervention.

Orsnes Carousel in Benfica

This is followed by the role of left winger, which he played on 22 occasions (as a starter or as a substitute) and in this classification Very special, the position of midfielder is only third, with 14 appearances, which is more than the matches played by left-back (10), number 10 (5) and right winger (3) – here we ignore sectoral changes during matches, although… It must be said that, even for just a few minutes, the Norwegian has already played in every position on the pitch, from centre-back to striker, for more than a year and a half at Benfica. All he has to do is go to the goal.

Just one time partner Joao Neves

Orsnes' central midfield matches at Benfica

Orsnes played as a double pivot only once this season and namely with Joao Neves, the most likely partner in the engine room of the Vizella reception: that was at the Real Sociedad reception, in the Champions League group stage match, which the Eagles lost 0-1. The remaining 13 experiences took place last season, but only eight of them were basic (three with Enzo Fernandes, three with Florentino and two with Chiquinho).

No player in the top three of the five major leagues has as many minutes in his legs as Benfica's Norwegian; The most widely used of the current Bundesliga leaders was once an Eagles player.

If nothing unexpected happens, the match against Minho's team will be another exception instead of the initially established rule. Until I go back to other places, so.