There is no process that can hinder the importance of Pavlidis
Before, during, and after the Champions League, the Championship. Having achieved its first objective towards the Champions League stage, Benfica returns to the Primeira Liga, where it debuted at Estrela da Amadora. The Lisbon derby came after the tie against Nice and before the demanding match at Fenerbahçe, counting for the millionaire competition's playoff . Despite the demanding schedule at the start of the season, which even led to the postponement of the opening matchday against Rio Ave until September, the Eagles have little room for maneuver and want to start the Primeira Liga with a win, unlike in recent seasons, or risk falling behind rivals FC Porto and Sporting.
Unsurprisingly, Bruno Lage has been the most talked-about name at the Luz stadium in recent days. First, during the match against the French club, the coach was seen giving a heartfelt hug to Kerem Aktürkoglu, who, by all accounts, is leaving the Reds for Galatasaray. Then, the Super Cup continues to be the talk of the town, and on Thursday, the Disciplinary Board of the Portuguese Football Federation initiated disciplinary proceedings against the Setúbal coach to "determine the potential disciplinary relevance of facts not described in the official reports of the referee, the police chief, or the police force," after the Lions protested inappropriate remarks by Lage, allegedly directed at referee Fábio Veríssimo.
Estrela da Amadora-Benfica, 0-1
2nd round of the Primeira Liga 2025/26
José Gomes Stadium, in Amadora
Referee: Hélder Carvalho (AF Santarém)
E. Amadora: Renan Ribeiro; Atanas Chernev, Bernardo Schappo, Luan Patrick; Sidny Cabral, Abraham Marcus (Jorge Meireles, 82'), Paulo Moreira, Fabio Ronaldo (Rodrigo Pinho, 74'); João Gastão (Ianis Stoica, 64'), Alan Godoy (Kikas, 64') and Jovane Cabral (João Resende, 82')
Unused substitutes: Diogo Pinto; Issiar Dramé, Assane Ndiaye and Alex Sola
Coach: Jose Faria
Benfica: Anatoliy Trubin; Amar Dedic, António Silva, Nico Otamendi, Samuel Dahl; Enzo Barrenechea (Florentino Luís, 87'), Richard Ríos (Tiago Gouveia, 90+3'), Fredrik Aursnes, Andreas Schjelderup (Gianluca Prestianni, 70'); Franco Ivanovic (Leandro Barreiro, 87') and Vangelis Pavlidis (Henrique Araújo, 90+3')
Unused substitutes: Samu Soares; Rafa Obrador, Kerem Aktürkoglu and Gonçalo Oliveira
Coach: Bruno Lage
Goals: Pavlidis (gp, 60')
Disciplinary action: yellow card to Gastão (24'), Ricardo Rocha (assistant, 25'), Mário Ferreira (assistant, 25'), Otamendi (53'), Chernev (58'), Barrenechea (63'), Ríos (84') and Pinho (90+6')
"Aktürkoglu? He's a very important player for the team. He's worth around 25-27 goal contributions. He started the season very well, happy at Benfica, and chose a new number. It's public knowledge that he received an offer, but what I feel is that the player is focused on the team. As I said in the last press conference, I'm counting on him for the next game. Complaint? I'm not at all worried. I can clearly assure you that what's stated in the complaint is false. I'm sure that the referee, Fábio Veríssimo, when confronted about it, will say the same thing. We feel the importance of starting the Championship well. We started the season well, and we have to take into this game what we did well in the last one: the determination to play well and the consistency the team has been showing. We're off to a good start and we want to continue that in the Championship," anticipated Lage.
Up ahead, Benfica faced José Faria's Estrela Amadora, who have undergone several changes to their squad during this transfer window. On matchday one, the Tricolor drew 1-1 at Estoril, a match in which they displayed several defensive weaknesses. Without Guilherme Montóia and Robinho, who were injured, Faria was forced to make changes against the Eagles. "To play against a gigantic club like Benfica, we'll need a near-perfect Estrela Amadora team. Benfica started the season very well, having won a title and played well in the knockout stage. They've shown they have the capacity to do good things this season. We have to be very focused and determined. These games are the easiest, as everyone wants to play and make a name for themselves on these stages. We won't need to push the players too much," explained the coach.
Countdown ⏳???? #CFEASLB • #LigaPortugalBetclic pic.twitter.com/X0BwQi6TWY
— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) August 16, 2025
The starting lineup was sparse, with only a few new players emerging from José Faria's side, who fielded his team in a 3-5-2 formation and replaced Nilton Varela and Robinho with Abraham Marcus and Fábio Ronaldo. Benfica's Bruno Lage provided neither surprises nor freshens up the team, repeating the starting lineup from the last two games, with Franjo Ivanovic and Vangelis Pavlidis up front. As expected, the Eagles started with more possession on a pitch far from ideal, but in the opening minutes, they were unable to trouble a Tricolor team that set up a block at the edge of the box and defended within 40 meters. The first real chance came from a Fredrik Aursnes corner, with the defense clearing it to the edge of the box and Samuel Dahl finishing over the bar (12'). Shortly after, the Swedish full-back was back in the spotlight and, after a move from right to left, he unleashed a mid-range shot that went close to the right post of the Estrella goal (17').
Estrela began to feel comfortable with the way the game was unfolding and, following a carefully crafted set piece, came very close to opening the scoring, with Jovane Cabral setting up Sidny Cabral, who, from the byline, crossed into the heart of the box, with Atanas Chernev, in the six-yard box, shooting over (24'). In response, Dahl sent in a low cross that was blocked by no one, and the ball fell to Aursnes, who fired a cross that Pavlidis backheeled just wide of the post (27'). After a more electrifying performance, the quality of play declined, with both teams rushing decisions and making numerous errors. Towards the end of the first half, João Gastão combined with Abraham Marcus and received the ball just outside the box, in the central corridor, unleashing a fantastic first-time shot that Anatoliy Trubin saved with his fingertips and onto the post (38'). The roles were reversed and, after a great cross from Aursnes, Andreas Schjelderup received the ball inside the box, pulled it onto his right foot and fired a shot that was superbly cleared by Luan Patrick, with Renan Ribeiro looking beaten (43'). Thus, the score remained 0-0 at halftime (0-0).
⚽️ HALF TIME ???????? Estrela Amadora 0 – 0 Benfica ????
◉ There are no goals in Reboleira, although both teams have already created enough to reach half-time tied but with the score "colorful" #CFEASLB pic.twitter.com/us0X33lQSk
— GoalPoint (@_Goalpoint) August 16, 2025
The second half began with the same players and a different start from the Reds, but the Tricolor's strong reaction continued, and the difficulties persisted. The first dangerous opportunity came from a set piece, with Sidny taking a powerful free kick. Trubin hesitated, failed to connect, and the ball fell to him, with Alan Godoy appearing completely alone and heading home, incredibly (55'). On the next play, Dahl crossed into the box, Ivanovic gained control of the center-backs and, before reaching the ball, was tackled in the back by Chernev, with Hélder Carvalho awarding the penalty (58'). From the free kick, Pavlidis chipped the ball with his right foot into the middle of the goal, Renan flew to his left and tried to stretch out his arm, but it was not enough to prevent the goal (60'). The Tricolores continued to create danger and, right after the opening goal, Sidny appeared to finish from the edge of the area, with António Silva cutting it out for a corner (62').
Gooooo ...
Benficaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!Benficaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!
Benficaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!
Pavlidis! pic.twitter.com/fUbTj8VWvi
— O Fura-Redes (@OFuraRedes) August 16, 2025
With Ianis Stoica, Kikas, and Rodrigo Pinho now in Estrela's attack, and Gianluca Prestianni on the left flank of the Reds' attack—without the Whites this Saturday—the visitors once again broke the deadlock down the left flank, with Dahl sending a low cross to Aursnes, who received the ball with his back to the goal and headed it wide for Richard Ríos's first-time shot (76'). Shortly after, in another attack that went through the Norwegian's feet, Prestianni headed in Ivanovic's powerful, placed shot, which was well-judged by Renan Ribeiro (80'). José Faria came off the bench for the final time to make two more attacking changes, with Jorge Meireles and João Resende coming on. Bruno Lage tried to block his goal with Leandro Barreiro and Florentino Luís, but Kikas managed to break through at the start of stoppage time and, with Trubin coming off, chipped the ball over the Ukrainian, but his shot went over (90+1'). Lage changed things up again, bringing on Tiago Gouveia and Henrique Araújo, and Pinho unleashed a powerful free kick that sailed just wide, leaving Trubin rooted to the spot (90+5'). The score remained the same until the end, and Benfica left Reboleira with all three points (0-1).
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