PARIS - Standing at the top of the Portuguese league, its time for Benfica to its turn fortunes around on the European stage.With only one point after three games in Group C of the Champions League, Benfica is desperate for a good result to keep alive its chances of progressing to the knockout stage as Monaco travels to Lisbon on Tuesday.Monaco, which has been struggling in front of goal this season following the departures of James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao, remains unbeaten in the competition and can move to the top of the group with a win depending on leader Bayer Leverkusens result against Zenit St. Petersburg.Here are some things to know about Tuesdays matches:___TIME FOR TALISCAAfter racking up eight goals in nine Portuguese league games, Benfica needs Talisca to show the same form against Monaco.The Brazilian is the top scorer in Portugal. He has netted more goals than eight clubs in the league, including the winner in last weekends 1-0 win at Rio Ave that kept Benfica at the top of the table.Talisca has so far disappointed, though, in his first season in the Champions League. His masterful left-foot shots havent found their target, and the Lisbon club is having one of its worst European campaigns ever.Adding to the concerns of coach Jorge Jesus, Argentine winger Nicolas Gaitan is doubtful with a back injury and central defender Lisandro Lopez is suspended.___LEVERKUSENS BEATINGBayer Leverkusen had a nasty, bruising, match in Hamburg, losing 1-0.Leverkusen midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu was singled out for rough treatment after leaving Hamburg in off season on bad terms and endured many fouls. But the team escaped without any major injury and captain Lars Bender is expected to be able to play despite a bruised nose and knee.Leverkusen leads the group and a victory in St. Petersburg would cement the position.Weve put ourselves in a good position and we will try to keep it that way, Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voeller said. But the group will be decided on the final match day.The rival has to attack and we should have some space to counter, Voeller said.Leverkusen will be without suspended left back Wendell. The Brazilian has been one of Leverkusens better players and his absence could hurt.___GOALS NEEDEDAfter finishing second to Paris Saint-Germain in the French league last season, Monaco received a brutal reality check following the departures of Falcao and Rodriguez.The pair of strikers has not been replaced and Leonardo Jardims side scored only 14 goals in 12 league matches so far, having won just six of its 15 matches in all competitions.Jardim was left frustrated by Fridays 1-1 home draw with Reims and has asked his players to be more efficient in the final third.We have lots of chances in every match, we are not clinical enough, Jardim said.Jardim also has to cope with injuries and his main offensive asset, veteran Dimitar Berbatov, remains sidelined with a groin injury. Spanish defender Borja Lopez is still unavailable with a knee injury but Joao Moutinho, who recovered from a shoulder problem, is likely to start.___SILVA HEADING BACK HOMEOn loan at Monaco this season, Bernardo Silva is eager to return to the club which has nurtured him.The Portuguese midfielder joined Benfica as an 8-year-old boy but left during the off-season after Jorge Jesus called him up only three times last season.At Monaco, Silva has gained the confidence of his new coach as Jardim uses him regularly in the league and already gave him a Champions League start.Playing in the French league and the Champions League after a stint in the Portuguese second division is wonderful, the 20-year-old midfielder said. The club has put its trust in the young players, and we are trying to repay them for what they do by winning matches, and hopefully titles.___SLOWING DOWNZenit has won 17 of its 21 Russian league games — and 22 of its 29 matches in all competitions — since Andre Villas-Boas took over in March.However, the pace has slowed, with two wins from the last six matches in all competitions for Zenit, which failed to score in three of those six matches, including its last two Champions League games.Villas-Boas, the former Tottenham manager, does not see any reason to be worried, though. His team remains at the top of the Russian league by seven points and is still unbeaten after 12 games following Saturdays victory over second-place CSKA Moscow 1-0.Everyone is still in good form and fresh, Villas-Boas said. Adriano Jersey . Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that the Raptors have traded forward Steve Novak along with a second-round pick to the Utah Jazz in exchange for guard Diante Garrett - who will then be waived. Ivan Rakitic Jersey . - The Clippers have signed guard Dahntay Jones to a second 10-day contract. http://www.soccerworld.us.com/fc-barcel ... -jersey/... maybe even more than that. Maybe all season I have to take a few blows. Jordi Alba Jersey . -- Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu will be the Dodgers starting pitchers in their two-game season-opening series in Australia against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Rafinha Barcelona Jersey . The All-Pro left tackle agreed to a five-year contract with the Eagles on Wednesday. Peters was signed for 2014, and his new deal adds four years through 2018.OAKLAND – There has been a quiet, building frustration in the Blue Jays clubhouse with Major League Baseballs new replay and challenge system. After Saturday nights 5-1 loss to Oakland, Torontos third-straight defeat at O.co Coliseum, Jose Bautista blew the lid off the simmering pot. First, the situation: With the Jays trailing 3-1 in the eighth, Jose Bautista was at the plate with two outs and Melky Cabrera on first base. Bautista doubled down the leftfield line off As reliever Luke Gregerson. Third base coach Luis Rivera waved Cabrera around third. Shortstop Jed Lowries relay throw to catcher Derek Norris was on the money and Norris swiped a tag at a sliding Cabrera. Home plate umpire Bill Miller, the man involved in Brett Lawries infamous helmet spiking incident two years ago, called Cabrera out. Manager John Gibbons challenged the play. It was close. The call on the field stood after a two-and-a-half minute review. The inning was over; the Jays wouldnt recover. "I dont really know which replay they were looking at but clearly they must have had a different video feed than the one we had," said Bautista. "Its pretty frustrating for you to battle as a team, keep the game close, for our pitchers to be doing what theyre doing, for us to keep grinding through games and facing some touch pitching and somehow be able to tie the game in the eighth inning, it all goes down the drain because somebody first, initially, made a bad call to begin with and then it gets upheld by God knows who in some room in New York supposedly." Bautista, the gathered media were about to find out, was only getting warmed up. "This whole replay thing has become a joke in my eyes," said Bautista. "I think they should just ban it, they should just get rid of it. I dont really understand the purpose of it but getting the right call on the field is not the purpose. Thats pretty obvious and evident. I dont know what kind of agenda the people that are doing the replays are on, what their plan is, what their purpose is, who theyre looking after. But obviously getting the right call on the field is not what theyre doing." There are those in the organization whove expressed quiet frustration at other challenges and reviews that havent gone the Jays way. Another recent example: Last Wednesday against Milwaukee when Munenori Kawasaki was called out at first base on a groundball to Brewers shortstop Jean Segura. Seguras throw pulled first baseman Jonathan Lucroy off the bag. Lucroy spun and attempted a tag on Kawasaki. The call was upheld despite evidence to the contrary. Baseball is cycling umpires through the so-called replay war room in New York City. When a play is challenged, the on-field umpire is getting on the headset and talking to a colleague. Regardless of what is the reality, the perception is increasing that umpires are watching out for umpires. Count Bautista in that camp. "I feel like there was a chance for Adam Lind to tie the game in the eighth inning (that) was taken away from us," said Bautista. "Man on second, two outs, 3-2 ballgame, we were right in it. Unfortunately some people, I dont know what the right word is, lack of integrity, lack of accountability, or some really good camaraderie that are looking after each othher, are not doing what theyre supposed to be doing.dddddddddddd Because getting the right call on the field, which is why instant replay was instituted, is not the purpose of whats happening. The best evidence is what happened today." Bautista surely will be fined for his outburst and his comments reflect a growing frustration with the clubs play. The Jays are 9-18 since hitting their season high-water mark of 38-24 on June 6. A six game lead in the American League East has turned into a deficit. Following Saturdays loss, Toronto is a full game back of the Baltimore Orioles for first place. The team is dealing with injuries, the latest suffered by Edwin Encarnacion (story here: http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=456550). Brett Lawrie has a fractured right index finger and likely wont be back until August. Bautista is playing with a sore hamstring and Adam Lind is playing with a bruised right foot. REYES ON TRADE MARKET Shortstop Jose Reyes weighed in to TSN.ca about Oaklands acquisition of pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel in Fridays blockbuster trade with the Chicago Cubs. "Its good for Oakland," said Reyes. "They got very good two pitchers. Samardzija, hes been one of the best this year. To go along with what they have, I mean thats huge for them. That means theyre pushing and they want to go all the way." Judging by the package the Athletics sent to Chicago (2012 first round pick, SS Addison Russell; 2013 first round pick, OF Billy McKinney; P Dan Straily and a player to be named later) its clear the Blue Jays couldnt match unless they were willing to part with a young pitcher off their major league roster. Starting pitching may not be Torontos priority, anyway. The staff has held up well through more than a half the season. An infielder, a second baseman or a third baseman, and bullpen help are just as important. "I think he knows what we need," said Reyes. "As a player I need to worry about doing my job. Our GM, hes got a job to do so I dont want to get involved in that and get involved in his decisions. Of course, our front office knows what we need. Its no secret to no one." GIBBONS: BUEHRLES AN ALL-STAR Mark Buehrles skipper thinks his left-hander should be in Minneapolis on July 15 for the All-Star Game. "Yeah he should be an All-Star, no question. No doubt," said manager John Gibbons. Buehrle (10-6) often jokes about luck and how its the determining factor in whether hes successful. After a 10-1 start to his season, Buehrles dropped his last five decisions and is winless in six-straight starts. Look closer, though, and youll see hes still pitching well. Four of Buehrles last six starts, the winless span, have been quality starts (six or more innings, three or fewer earned runs against). Buehrles ERA, in 121 1/3 innings this season, is a stellar 2.60. ITS A CRUEL BUSINESS How is Tommy Milone feeling right now? The As left-hander tossed six innings of shutout ball against the Blue Jays on Friday and had a record of 6-0 with a 2.62 ERA over his last 11 starts dating back to May 9. On Saturday, Milone was optioned to Oaklands Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento to make room on the active roster for newly-acquired starting pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '