Pardew Underestimates Benfica

16 March 2013 10:59
Alan Pardew says he is happy being paired with Benfica in Friday's Europa League quarter-final draw.

Alan Pardew: "Obviously we're really pleased with the draw.

"The second leg being at home gives us perhaps a slight advantage.

"For our fans, Portugal is accessible for them and they'll look forward to that. Lisbon is a fantastic city - I bet they're online now getting their flights. I hope so.

"They're top of the league, they're going well. It's a fantastic history, perhaps even greater than our own.

"Everyone wanted this win (against Anzhi Makhachkala).

"It's great to play with other top clubs. We proved that we are a good side because it is the quarter-finals, but we can do better."

I think Pardew underestimates Benfica when he says "It's a fantastic history, perhaps even greater than our own".

European champions twice; 32 league titles; cup winners 24 times.

Errr ... think they may just have a better record than us.

List of S.L. Benfica honours ...

Primeira Liga: 32 – Record1935–36, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1941–42, 1942–43, 1944–45, 1949–50, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1993–94, 2004–05, 2009–10Taça de Portugal: 24 – Record1939–40, 1942–43, 1943–44, 1948–49, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1961–62, 1963–64, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1992–93, 1995–96, 2003–04Taça da Liga: 4 – Record2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12Supertaça de Portugal: 41980, 1985, 1989, 2005Campeonato de Portugal: 31929–30, 1930–31, 1934–35Campeonato de Lisboa: 101909–10, 1911–12, 1912–13, 1913–14, 1915–16, 1916–17, 1917–18, 1919–20, 1932–33, 1939–40Taça de Honra de Lisboa: 181919–20, 1921–22, 1962–63, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1987–88Taça Ribeiro dos Reis: 31963–64, 1965–66, 1970–71European competitionsEuropean Champion Clubs' Cup: 21960–61, 1961–62Latin Cup: 11950Iberian Cup: 11983

Source: Newcastle United Mad

Source: FOOTYMAD