Complete game from the Argentine! It made the 2-1 that boosted the eagle’s demolishing response to Samu’s goal and the 4-1 with a penalty scored with class; Races at an exceptional level, Tomás Araújo decisive in… attacking and Florentino blocking all paths
Man of the match: Di María (8)
It was an entire film due to the Argentine. First sign of a shot from outside the area, easy for Diogo Costa (15′), just to warm up. Pavlidis isolated for the Greek to take the ball to the post. But it was after the break and Samu’s goal, which left Luz apprehensive, that the Argentine’s class, character and leadership emerged. The coolness with which he beat Diogo Costa in the 2-1, after a sweet pass from Aursnes, propelled Benfica to the rest of the demolition classic, with FC Porto inoperative attacking, and the Argentine asking for and having the ball. The penalty conversion, in a defining moment of the rout, was sublime. And there was even a specialist in the goal, but he was well deceived by Angelito, who, after spreading his wings, closed them in a collective hug in the stadium.
6 Trubin – Attentive to spot Samu, in a move in which the Spaniard was out of the game. Little work in the 1st half, he was fooled by the idea of an easy cut from Otamendi when the FC Porto Spaniard was on the Argentine’s back and ready to capitalize on Moura’s pass. In practice, and in a usually intense classic, there was little work. After the break he easily intercepted a shot from Fábio Vieira (59).
7 Bah – Galeno seemed like a kind of anchor capable of stopping attacking temptations, but that was in the first half, because afterwards the Dane knew how to find the perfect balance between the need to protect his domains and give more of himself in offensive terms. And so much so that as soon as he found space to escape the marking he served Pavlidis, forcing an own goal from Nehuén Pérez.
8 Tomás Araújo – A pass trivela coming from a central defender, it is, in itself, a rarity, but when this classy note translates into an assist for Carreras to beat Diogo Costa, it is clear that Araújo was well aware of the surprise effect that the opening would have on the opponent. He tried other technical gems, but it was with spartan simplicity that he isolated Bah for him to cross to make it 3-1 for the Reds – Nehuén’s own goal, but with Pavlidis making a decisive intervention.
4 Otamendi – Flawless until you stumble upon a huge mistake. A mix of unhappiness and ineptitude that not only resulted in Samu’s easy goal, but also made it impossible for Trubin to take the shot, as he was counting on an assertive intervention from the Argentine. In this carousel of good games and others that were downright bad, it ended up being saved by the team’s reaction in the 2nd half and also by the penalty won in the 80th minute, after a foul by Alan Varela. Even so, it clashed.
8 Races – What a game from the Spaniard, the best player in the 1st half. Second league game scoring. He is, in fact, going through a brilliant moment and with unshakable confidence in his talent. The goal is an example of this: he took Martim Fernandes out of the way with his left foot, shot hard with his right foot, surprising the opponent, who expected it to be on the outside and not so far inside as to match Diogo Costa’s goal.
7 Aursnes – A growing performance, but always with the concern of maintaining a constant dialogue with Florentino so that the Porto midfield did not create supremacy. He signaled his attacking presence with a first shot from distance (48) and completed his entry into the history of the classic with the fantastic pass that isolated Di María at 2-1. A small sin: he almost committed a pass in his area that Samu almost missed intercepting.
8 Florentino – If we needed just one snapshot of his performance, we would have to choose the cut at 48′ in the red area, after Galeno’s incursion. But, overall, he played a ‘game’, not only conditioning Samu’s depth, but also depleting Nico González’s influence in the construction of the offensive game, chasing his reference even when it escaped to the left. No one passed through it, the border was closed.
7 Kokçu – Dynamic and enterprising, he didn’t always make the best decisions, but yesterday he had the ball and made Benfica’s football flow, creating discomfort in the Porto midfield. With a free kick, Diogo Costa called the beautiful defense (20).
7 Pavlidis – Half a goal from the Greek. We must recognize the merit in the way the striker threw himself at the ball centered by Bah, forcing Nehuén to do the same and score against. Five minutes before half-time, with his left foot, he hit the Porto goal post – it would have been 2-0 – and that was also what is asked of an area reference – a stone in the opposing defenders’ boots.
7 Akturkoglu – This time he didn’t score, but left the heads of Nehuén Pérez and Martim Fernandes spinning in the attack in interior areas and on the left wing – in the 35th minute he broke through the blocks very well to spread the division in the Porto defense. Decisive in the 2-1 by stealing the ball from Martim Fernandes, injecting the counterattack that ended with Di María celebrating the goal.
5 other – He didn’t let the pace drop on the left. As soon as he entered, he threatened Diogo Costa.
(-) Arthur Cabral – Little time in play, therefore almost or no influence.
(-) Renato Sanches – Six minutes, plus extra time. I couldn’t even sweat.
((-) Amdouni – Di María joined the Luz applause.
(-) Rollheiser – The last Alex Reed to the party. The end of the party…
Match Review: Benfica’s Dazzling Display Against FC Porto
Complete game from the Argentine! It made the 2-1 that boosted the eagle’s demolishing response to Samu’s goal and the 4-1 with a penalty scored with class; Races at an exceptional level, Tomás Araújo decisive in… attacking and Florentino blocking all paths.
Man of the Match: Di María (8)
It was an entire film due to the Argentine. First sign of a shot from outside the area, easy for Diogo Costa (15′), just to warm up. Pavlidis isolated for the Greek to take the ball to the post. But it was after the break and Samu’s goal, which left Luz apprehensive, that the Argentine’s class, character, and leadership emerged. The coolness with which he beat Diogo Costa in the 2-1, after a sweet pass from Aursnes, propelled Benfica to the rest of the demolition classic, with FC Porto inoperative attacking, and the Argentine asking for and having the ball. The penalty conversion, in a defining moment of the rout, was sublime. And there was even a specialist in the goal, but he was well deceived by Angelito, who, after spreading his wings, closed them in a collective hug in the stadium.
Player Performances
Final Thoughts
This match was a thrilling rollercoaster of emotions and a masterclass of football from Benfica. Di María’s leadership and class were like an Argentine tango danced all over the pitch, while FC Porto looked more like a group of confused tourists—no direction, no rhythm, just occasional glimpses of brilliance that seemed oddly misplaced and occasionally a bit tragic. But let’s face it—when an eagle soars like that, you merely have to sit back and enjoy the spectacle, preferably with a cold beverage in hand. Cheers to the winners and better luck next time for the losers—at least they can say they played in one heck of a match!
A brilliant performance from the Argentine superstar! His finesse led to the crucial 2-1 goal that sparked Benfica’s overwhelming response to Samu’s earlier strike, followed by a masterfully executed penalty that sealed the match at 4-1. With Races showcasing exceptional form, Tomás Araújo proved decisive in attack while Florentino excelled at thwarting all offensive maneuvers from FC Porto.
Man of the match: Di María (8)
Di María was the driving force behind an action-packed encounter. He initially hinted at his scoring potential with a shot from outside the box that was comfortably saved by Diogo Costa at the 15-minute mark. Pavlidis also came close, hitting the post for Benfica. However, it was in the second half, following Samu’s goal that unsettled the Luz crowd, that Di María’s true class, leadership, and composure came to the fore. Showing remarkable poise, he converted the 2-1 goal after a perfectly weighted pass from Aursnes, igniting Benfica’s dominant performance as Porto struggled to respond. His penalty conversion, a key moment in the rout, showcased his exceptional skill, even leaving an experienced specialist in goal completely bamboozled. After his dazzling display, he embraced his teammates amidst a stadium fueled with excitement.
8 Races – What a game from the Spaniard, the best player in the 1st half. He is in the midst of an outstanding run and possesses unwavering confidence in his abilities. The way he created space to shoot was exemplary: he elegantly maneuvered past Martim Fernandes with his left foot before unleashing a powerful shot with his right, baffling the opponent by veering inwards and perfectly placing the ball past Diogo Costa.
8 Florentino – His defensive prowess was evident throughout, with a standout moment occurring at the 48th minute where he executed a critical interception in the penalty area following Galeno’s threatening advance. Overall, he orchestrated a dominant performance, effectively neutralizing Samu’s impact while simultaneously limiting Nico González’s contributions to Porto’s attacking strategy. No opponent could breach his stronghold, closing down passing lanes with remarkable efficiency.
7 Kokçu – Dynamic and enterprising, he possessed the ball frequently and played a vital role in establishing Benfica’s flow of play, causing significant disruption within the Porto midfield. He also tested Diogo Costa with a well-placed free kick that showcased his creativity.
7 Pavlidis – Half a goal from the Greek. The striker’s commitment was instrumental in forcing Nehuén to score an own goal, although he came close to finding the net himself with a left-footed strike that rattled the Porto goal post just before halftime. His presence continuously troubled the defenders.
7 Akturkoglu – This time he didn’t score, but he effectively challenged the defensive capabilities of Nehuén Pérez and Martim Fernandes, generating confusion in the left wing. Crucially, he played a significant role in the build-up to the 2-1 goal by intercepting the ball from Martim Fernandes, sparking a swift counterattack that culminated in Di María’s celebration.
5 other – He maintained the intensity on the left side after coming on, immediately posing a threat to Diogo Costa, signaling the depth of Benfica’s attacking options.
Ball into the bottom corner of the net. It’s no surprise that he was instrumental in maintaining Benfica’s first-half momentum and ensuring they took control early on in the match.
7 Florentino – Dominating the midfield battle, Florentino was impeccable in his defensive duties. His crucial interventions, particularly the decisive cut in the penalty area to thwart FC Porto’s advances, showcased his vital role in maintaining the team’s structure. He ensured that no Porto player could penetrate the midfield, allowing his teammates to focus more on attacking moves without worrying about defensive responsibilities.
8 Tomás Araújo – The central defender was not only solid at the back but also pivotal in launching attacks. His exquisite pass that led to Carreras’ goal demonstrated the versatility and talent that Araújo brings to the side. Coupled with his ability to keep it simple when required, he proved to be a key player in pushing Benfica forward and accumulating pressure on the Porto defense.
7 Aursnes – While his contributions offensively became more apparent in the second half, Aursnes played an equally significant role in midfield alongside Florentino. Although he had a narrow moment of indecision that nearly led to a misstep, his overall game management and ability to create scoring opportunities were essential in regaining Benfica’s control after conceding the initial goal.
7 Kokçu – His energy and creativity brought an edge to Benfica’s attack. Though not all of his decisions were executed perfectly, his persistent efforts in finding space, coupled with his drive to push forward, caused considerable issues for the Porto defense throughout the match.
The match featured a mix of strategic prowess, skilled execution, and moments of brilliance from Benfica, particularly led by Di María, whose performance will be remembered as an exemplary display of leadership and footballing artistry. For FC Porto, it was a sobering experience that left them pondering their tactics and the need for a more cohesive approach in future matches.
