The first trophy of the season in Portugal already has a winner. This Thursday, Benfica narrowly defeated Sporting Lisbon at the Estádio do Algarve, securing their tenth SuperTaça title after a thrilling match that ended 0-1. The only goal of the game came from Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis, who etched his name into club history with a timely finish.

Pavlidis Shines in the Lisbon Derby

The decisive goal came in the 50th minute, when Pavlidis took advantage of a mistake by the opposing goalkeeper, Rui Silva, formerly of Real Betis. The shot, which didn’t appear too threatening, slipped through the keeper’s hands, putting the 'Lions' behind and giving the 'Eagles' a breath of fresh air.

Up to that point, Sporting had been the more dominant side, led by a strong performance from young Spanish full-back Iván Fresneda, who has found consistency since his move from Real Valladolid. However, the goal changed the momentum of the game. Benfica, now in control, began managing the pace with more composure, with Colombian midfielder Richard Ríos also standing out for his calm and energetic presence.

In search of an equalizer, Sporting coach Rúben Amorim turned to his bench and introduced their latest signing, Colombian forward Luis Suárez, recently arrived from Almería. Making his debut, the striker created danger and showed promise, but couldn't break through Benfica's defense, which held firm until the final whistle.

There were emotional moments off the pitch as well. The wife of Portuguese international Diogo Jota was spotted in the stands, and before kickoff, a brief but heartfelt tribute was paid to the player.

With this win, Benfica adds another trophy to its collection and reaffirms its status as one of Portuguese football's giants, while Sporting must turn the page and focus on the league kickoff. For now, the glory is red.