Bruce relishes Benfica clash
Steve Bruce is relishing tonight's game against Portuguese champions Benfica, seeings it as a rare chance to measure Sunderland against Europe's best.
The match has been the talk of the Algarve for the last couple of days and extra seating is being installed in the Estadio Municipal in Albufeira to help meet some of the demand for what will be a sell-out game.
Benfica, Porto and Sporting Lisbon are far and away the biggest clubs in Portugal and the champions coming to the coastal resort is big news.
Big for Bruce, too, who said: "I'm really looking forward to it.
"I think it's a great game for us and a great game for our fans.
"It's going to be a real test because Benfica are not only the champions of Portugal but one of the best teams in Europe.
"They've got a history of unearthing top European stars and although they sold a couple in recent seasons, they've still got a tremendous squad of players.
"So it's a great game in prospect and I know we're going to have our work cut out for us.
"It's going to be a refreshing change actually because when you're a Premier League team, you're usually up against teams that are below your level but, with Benfica, it's going to be the other way round."
Bruce says Sunderland will treat the game with the respect it deserves and is looking to field his strongest team.
Lee Cattermole and Michael Turner have a real chance of starting the match after making good progress with knocks, but the game has come too soon for Titus Bramble, who is targeting Sunderland's next friendly, away to Leicester City on Saturday, July 31.
Bruce said: "Like all pre-season games, it's all about preparation and fitness work.
"That's the over-riding importance of what we're doing now. But, at the same time, you want to do well in every game you play.
"We're unbeaten in pre-season so far and it would be nice if that could continue.
"Benfica will be a real challenge, but hopefully it will bring the best out in us.
"I was really pleased with us on Saturday against Hull.
"I though the pace and movement of Fraizer Campbell and Martyn Waghorn up front caused them all sorts of problems and, in midfield, we had all the energy from the likes of Jordan Henderson and Ahmed Al-Muhammadi and, of course, we had the guile of Steed Malbranque.
"But it's going to be a different level altogether against Benfica and we'll be making the players aware of that."
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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