Tondela-Benfica: the first 15 minutes of Renato Sanches with an eagle upon his chest

Renato Sanches made his first 15 minutes in the first team on October 30^th, 2015. At Estádio Municipal de Aveiro, in the match of round 9 between Tondela and Benfica Rui Vitória launched the youngster who graduated from Caixa Futebol Campus in the first team. 

It would be the first of 35 matches before transferring, at the end of that season, to FC Bayern. In Aveiro, in the 75’, Benfica was beating Tondela (0-3, the final result would be 0-4) when Renato Sanches entered to replace Jonas.

In the next round, he made his debut at Estádio da Luz. He entered the game in the 90’ to replace Gaitán.

It was only missing the debut in the starting XI and the first goal. It was only a matter of time…

On November 25^th, in Astana, in the group stage of the Champions League, Renato Sanches played, alongside Samaris, in the reds' midfield and, shortly after, on December 4^th, 2015, he would score his first goal in the first team, in matchday 12 of Liga NOS. At Estádio da Luz, against Académica, the youngster scored the 3-0 with a long-range screamer. It had just begun to emerge another talent Made In Seixal. 

Text: Marco Rebelo

Pics: Archive / SL Benfica