Nuno Gomes has belief in Benfica

Having eliminated holders Liverpool FC to reach the UEFA Champions League last eight, SL Benfica have it in them to go even further according to striker Nuno Gomes.

Tireless
The 29-year-old was his normal tireless self at Anfield on Wednesday, though his booking in the 2-0 win against Liverpool means he will miss the first leg of the quarter-finals. But with Benfica having secured a 3-0 aggregate triumph, Nuno Gomes was concentrating on the victory itself.

Champions out
"Liverpool were the champions, they have a good team, and we beat them - psychologically that's important for us," he said, recalling too Benfica's group-stage victims. "We also beat Manchester United [FC], so let's see if we can beat a good team again."

'Anything is possible'
Indeed, Nuno Gomes believes the underdogs from Lisbon could even follow in Liverpool's footsteps by upsetting the odds and lifting the trophy. "I think it's possible because games are won and lost on the pitch," he said. "It's eleven against eleven, anything is possible. Now we are in the quarter-finals and we will celebrate and wait for the draw."

Chances missed
It was not easy for Benfica, as Liverpool pushed the Portuguese champions deep into their own territory, hitting the post and registering nine shots in the first 25 minutes before the visitors even managed one. "In the opening minutes they missed some goals and then we scored - that's football," Nuno Gomes said. "They have a good team and they worked a lot early on but fortunately for us, they didn't score."

'Incredible' atmosphere
Benfica also had to contend with the vocal backing given to the home side at Anfield - a venue at which the Eagles had always previously lost. By the end, though, the locals were applauding Benfica's second goal. "Incredible, we love this atmosphere," Nuno Gomes said. "We appreciate that English fans, and Liverpool fans, support the team for the whole game. And we appreciated that, at the end, they also supported Benfica!"

League test
The only comparable celebration Nuno Gomes can recall for Benfica was their Portuguese Liga triumph last May, the first title of his seven-season stay at the Luz. This term they trail FC Porto by five points, and on Sunday must gather their thoughts for the visit of lowly A. Naval 1° Maio. "We are trying to catch Porto, and now we have to perform in our league because we want to finish top again," the Portuguese international said. "It will be a difficult match, we will be a little bit tired."

Porto inspiration
Yet Porto could also be an inspiration for Benfica - after all, it was they who began the trend for surprise European champions two years ago. "It was a very important victory for Porto," Nuno Gomes said. "In the Champions League the smaller teams can beat the biggest. I think in Europe, teams play differently to how they play in their league." Certainly, Benfica are performing to their peak in the UEFA Champions League.