Rafa has influence on Benfica's game

Ahead of the match against Portimonense, Rui Vitória praised the importance of relying on all players at a decisive stage of the season: “…the players feel that they are close to playing at any moment, that they can decide the game and be important, that they can suddenly have a huge impact on the team." This statement fits like a glove in the story of Rafa throughout the season.

The Benfica coach has been showing, with opportunities, that he counts on the Portuguese international, he has been responding on the pitch with influence in the important action of benfiquista gameplay and in goals.

The story of Rafa in this Liga NOS does not begin with the unavoidable "Once upon a time…”, but it could have been. It begins like this: It all began at Chaves! In the 69th minute, Cervi was replaced by Rafa. Initially, winger played on the left side of the attack. At 78’, Salvio was replaced and Rafa switched sides. It was from the right, in injury time, that he crossed the ball towards Seferovic who broke the deadlock and gave the Eagles the three points. 

2018 started with a derby at Estádio da Luz. Stands filled with fans, the country stopped… the kick-off happened at 9:30 pm. Sporting scored first, at 20'. From then on, Benfica controlled the game. At 73’, Rafa came on, Salvio had stepped back on the pitch at a time in which the reds were doing everything to get at least the equalizer. The number 27 took the right side of the attack and “won” the penalty kick that would give the equalizer in the injury time.  His shot was stopped by the hand of Battaglia. This time– there had been other handballs in Sporting’s penalty area –, Hugo Miguel saw and awarded the penalty that Jonas converted.

More recently, against Rio Ave, Rafa participated once again in one of the goals of the 5-1 rout. Salvio picked up an injury at 35’ and the Portuguese international came on to replace him. He took the right side of the attack and he made the cross for Raúl's goal after a collective play composed by 25 passes with the ball passing through the 10 field players. 

The injury of the Argentine winger and the good performance of the number 27 jersey against the “vila-condenses” earned him a place in the starting XI against Portimonense. Rafa gave once again a positive response. In one of his actions, he intervened on the play of Cervi's goal, who opened the scoring in the Algarve.

Text: Marco Rebelo

Pics: Archive / SL Benfica