Three weeks of resilience and success

The second cycle of the season was surpassed with flair, not just for the triumph over FC Porto in matchday 7, but especially for the top spot of the Liga NOS table.

At this moment, Benfica has 17 points, one more point that in the same period last season, overcoming the direct rivals, FC Porto and Sporting, who have less six points that the ones registered in 2017/18.

This second cycle of 2018/19 started on September 15 with the home match against Rio Ave in the League Cup and ended with the "clássico", a match that the Eagles won by 1-0. In six matches, there have been four victories, one draw and just one defeat – the only of the season–, against Bayern Munich. There have been scored 10 goals and seven have been conceded.

The beginning of this cycle coincided with the debut in the 2018/19 League Cup. At Estádio da Luz, the men under Rui Vitória won by 2-1. Salvio and Rafa scored the goals.

The next match – the 10th of the season – brought the first and only loss. Bayern Munich traveled to Luz for the opening round of the Champions League Group E and won by 0-2.

Still at Estádio da Luz, the return to the Liga NOS took place on September 23 against Desportivo das Aves. In an one-way traffic match, the Eagles won by 2-0. The goals were scored by João Félix and Cervi.

A few days later, on October 27, the first away match of this cycle. The team traveled to Trás-os-Montes and got a 2-2 draw. A special emphasis for Rafa and Ghazaryan, both with a brace in the match.

The first day of October brought two important triumphs. In matchday 2 of the Champions League, in Athens, Benfica beat AEK. Seferovic and Grimaldo scored within the first 15 minutes and gave the Portuguese side a 2-0 lead. The home team got the equalizer in the second half but Alfa Semedo, with a long-range shot, handed the Reds an away win.

The last match of the second cycle was on October 7, exactly two months after the official start of the season for Benfica (7 of August against Fenerbahçe, at Luz). The "clássico" was the big match from round 7 of the Liga NOS and the solitary goal was scored by Seferovic, the forward who scored the 100th goal from the Eagles in the Champions League group stage.

The third cycle of 2018/19 starts with the 3rd round of the Portuguese Cup, which draw will take place on Wednesday, October 10.

Wear of the trips circumvented: number support a job well done

Since the kick-off, against the Turks of Fenerbahçe, the players under Rui Vitória have carried out 14 matches which translated into nine triumphs, four draws and one loss.

In this context of maximum requirement in sports terms, Benfica traveled to Turkey and to Greece with the logistic difficulties and wear to those trips. The team responded on the pitch with solid performances and results that allowed Benfica to leave Fenerbahçe and PAOK behind, the later defeated at home by 1-4.

With a great accuracy and a solid defense, the Eagles have 27 goals scored (1,93 per match ) and 13 conceded (0,93 per encounter).

24 players used, with André Almeida and Pizzi always present

In the start of the season, the coaches have as one of the urgent concerns the consolidation of a starting XI.

Rui Vitória was no exception, but already handed minutes to 24 players in a clear message for the squad that all players count and will be important throughout a long a demanding season.

Even so, there are footballers with more minutes than others. On the top, André Almeida e Pizzi, who are the only athletes who played in every encounter of 2018/19. Among the most used, a note for Odysseas, Grimaldo, Rúben Dias, Fejsa and Cervi, who played in 13 matches.

Benfiquistas have a key role in the journey

Under the motto of the Reconquer, the supporters, as usual, have been present. They had already shown to be with the team in the initial cycle of the season, which ended with the rout (0-4) over Nacional, and they continue to do so now.

In the matches against Bayern and FC Porto, there were in the stands of Estádio da Luz more than 60 thousand people. Against Desportivo das Aves there have been 53 606 Benfiquistas in the stands. The encounter with fewer people in the stands was against Rio Ave for the League Cup (30 132 spectators).

Text: Marco Rebelo

Pics: Archive / SL Benfica