The triumph deserved more goals

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

In front of 59 490 fans at the Estádio da Luz, Benfica beat Estrela da Amadora, by 1-0, in matchday 3 of the Liga Betclic 2024/25, this Saturday night, August 24. The only goal was scored by Kökcü named Man of the Match) at minute 19.

Coach Roger Schmidt made three changes from the previous match. Otamendi, Álvaro Carreras and Kökcü, replaced António Silva, Beste (injured) and João Mário.

Roger Schmidt's starting eleven consisted of Trubin, Bah, Tomás Araújo, Otamendi, Álvaro Carreras, Florentino, Barreiro, Aursnes, Kökcü, Prestianni and Pavlidis.

Before the starting whistle, a one-minute silence was held in honor of Benfica member no. 3,683, José Guilherme, who passed away this week.

Benfica came out pressing and wanting to impose their dominance on a Estrela da Amadora side that played with a low block, making it difficult for the Eagles to attack. In a patient start to the game, Tomás Araújo had the first attempt on goal in the 4th minute, with a header stopped by Brigido.

This was the first warning of a 20-minute period in which the Reds were very attack-minded, having Kökcü as the main protagonist. The Turkish international tried to score from outside the box in the 12th minute, with a shot to the top right of the goal that the keeper saved, and in the 15th minute he fired again over the bar after a cross from Barreiro.

At the third attempt (19'), Kökcü opened the scoring. Pavlidis received the ball from Aursnes, turned the ball and assisted the No. 10, who opened the scoring with a right-footed shot (1-0).

Estrela da Amadora's first dangerous move came in the 24th minute, when Miguel Lopes shot wide.

At the 32', Tiago Gouveia replaced Aursnes due to injury. With this change, Kökcü moved to the left, with Tiago Gouveia on the right.

After a period of stoppages, the Benfica players approached the box in the last minutes of the first half (45'+1') and saw a goal disallowed in stoppage time. Following a corner, Pavlidis put the ball in the net, but ended up fouling the keeper.

Benfica started the second half very well. In the space of four minutes they had two good chances to extend their lead, with two shots from the heart of the box.

In the 49th minute, Pavlidis tried his shot but Brigido saved it, and in the 53rd minute, a great opportunity from Tiago Gouveia, after a quality team move, ended with a great action from the Estrela da Amadora goalkeeper.

Two more substitutions were made by Roger Schmidt at 71', with Di María and Renato Sanches coming on for Prestianni and Florentino respectively.

Renato Sanches' entrance was a landmark moment. After eight years, the player trained at the Benfica Campus was back in the Benfica jersey at the Estádio da Luz.

With the end of the match approaching and with the minimum advantage in the score, the Estrela da Amadora were believing that they could reach the equalizer. Benfica managed to control the match in crucial moments, holding on to victory and the three points.

In the 86th minute, another double substitution for the Eagles. Injured Tiago Gouveia had to be replaced, with Rollheiser coming on in his place. Arthur Cabral replaced Pavlidis.

In the same minute that he came on, Arthur Cabral headed in at the far post from a corner, but the shot was disallowed after a foul.

In added time, at 90'+3', there was another dangerous move from the Reds. After a cross from Di María, Barreiro headed the ball into the penalty box, where Arthur Cabral came close to scoring. The shot was disallowed for an infringement by Barreiro.

Benfica picked up the second win in a row and played the second game without conceding a goal. In the next game, matchday 4 of the Liga Betclic, the Eagles travel to Moreira de Cónegos, to the Estádio Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas, to face Moreirense, in a match scheduled for August 30, Friday, with the starting whistle set for 20:15 pm.