Vitamin Goal provides Benfica with muscle

The six goals scored against Marítimo in round 30 of the Liga NOS have catapulted Benfica to the best goal average per game (2,9) among Europe's Top 10 leagues, overcoming Paris Saint-Germain (2,88).

Throughout 2018/19, the goal has been the vitamin that nourishes and strengthens Benfica, the leader of the Championship when there are four rounds left to play (75 points), but the momentum and the efficacy grew since Bruno Lage took over the team in January. Under the 42-year-old coach, the eagles have already carried out 15 matches in the Liga NOS and amassed 14 wins and one draw.

With Bruno Lage, the eagles flew even higher and have already celebrated 56 accurate strikes in 15 leagues matches, which makes an average of 3,7 per match. The tally of 87 goals scored in 30 rounds is the Club’s best mark in the League in the last 43 years, since 1975/76.

Goal average in the European top 10

Individually, and although Seferovic stands out with 19 goals in the Liga NOS, which places him as the top scorer, there are several players that have been showing a great accuracy. So far, five footballers from Benfica scored 10 or more goals in the competition. João Félix, in his senior debut, with 13, Rafa with 12 and Jonas and Pizzi with 10 round off the batch.

Adding all the official competitions in 2018/19 (Champions League, Europa League, Portuguese Cup, and League Cup), the team has 124 goals scored in 56 matches (an average of 2,21), which places the current season among the most prolific of the 21st century, together with 2009/10. There are behind the 123 goals from 2012/13, the 122 from 2015/16 and the 118 from 2016/17.

Text: Marco Rebelo

Pics: Archive / SL Benfica