Benfica’s Road Back to Winning Ways: Key Takeaways from the Liga Portugal Clash
The Eagles regained confidence at the Estádio da Luz, but their victory also exposed an area that still needs work. What changed against Vitória Guimarães?
Benfica responded to their defeat against Porto with a 2-0 victory over Vitória Guimarães on Matchday 8 of Liga Portugal. At the Estádio da Luz, Marco Silva’s side displayed defensive solidity, control of possession, and clear superiority, allowing them to regain confidence and remain in the race for the league title.
However, the result also highlighted an area that still needs improvement: although the Eagles combine fluidly and create scoring opportunities, they need greater clinical finishing to turn their dominance into a more comfortable lead. Goals from Samuel Dahl and Georgiy Sudakov secured three important points, but Benfica’s attacking performance could have delivered an even greater reward.
BENFICA REGAINS CONFIDENCE AFTER DEFEAT TO PORTO
The 3-1 defeat to Porto called for an immediate response, and Benfica delivered a convincing performance in Lisbon. Backed by more than 60,000 fans at the Estádio da Luz, the hosts took the initiative and created enough chances to put the game beyond reach before halftime.
Marco Silva said at his post-match press conference that the victory was deserved, highlighting his players’ strong start as they found space despite Vitória Guimarães’ defensive setup, which featured a five-man back line.
The coach explained that Benfica’s attacking combinations helped them find Vangelis Pavlidis and create dangerous opportunities. However, he regretted his team’s loss of precision during the final 15 minutes of the first half.
“Scoring one or two goals at that point would have immediately taken the confidence away from our opponents,” Silva explained, reflecting on the chances his team failed to convert. The manager felt that leaving the score at 1-0 allowed Vitória Guimarães to maintain hope of finding an equalizer.
The victory also carried significant psychological value after the setback in the rivalry clash. For Benfica, returning to winning ways was crucial to remaining in the race for the Liga Portugal title.
ATTACKING DOMINANCE, BUT BENFICA NEEDS GREATER CLINICAL FINISHING
The match once again exposed one of Benfica’s main areas for improvement: finishing in front of goal. The team found space, linked passes effectively, and created clear chances, but did not always make the best decisions in the final third.
In his post-match analysis, Marco Silva acknowledged that Benfica lost some of its attacking control toward the end of the first half and gave the ball away too often after the break, allowing Vitória Guimarães to launch several attacks.
The coach also explained that his substitutions were designed to restore quality and dynamism in possession. The introductions of Fredrik Aursnes and Claudio Echeverri addressed that need, while Sudakov’s arrival ultimately proved decisive in sealing the victory.
Despite the positive result, Silva was self-critical about his team’s second-half performance.
“The second half was not at the level we want and need to reach,” the manager admitted, noting that the opposition created just one clear chance from a cross and failed to register a shot on target.
For Silva, securing a home win without conceding was important, but the team must improve its finishing and sustain its dominance for longer periods. The victory provides a confidence boost, although clinical finishing remains an area that could make the difference against tougher opposition.
MARCO SILVA PRAISES SUDAKOV’S GOAL AND BENFICA’S TEAM IDENTITY
One of the decisive moments of the match came when Georgiy Sudakov sealed Benfica’s 2-0 victory in the 75th minute, finishing off an assist from Claudio Echeverri. The Ukrainian midfielder scored his first goal of the season for Benfica.
Marco Silva acknowledged that the goal carried special significance for the player, who had been looking to find the back of the net again. The manager also emphasized its importance in confirming the Lisbon side’s superiority throughout the match.
“It was a very important goal for the team because it consolidated our superiority during the match,” Silva said of Sudakov’s strike. The coach added that the goal was equally important for the midfielder, who needed to regain his confidence in front of goal.
Silva also stressed that team identity and a competitive mindset are fundamental to his project. Following the victory, he made it clear that earning the fans’ support requires maintaining high standards from one match to the next.
“Today I convinced them because I won; tomorrow I have to convince them again, and on Thursday, again,” Silva stated, referring to the need to sustain results and commitment throughout the season.
Benfica will have little time to relax. Their upcoming clash against Celtic will demand the same intensity and greater efficiency in front of goal, particularly after a match in which their footballing superiority did not always translate into goals.
SAMUEL DAHL SHINES AT THE ESTÁDIO DA LUZ AND EXTENDS HIS UNUSUAL SCORING STREAK
Another key figure was Samuel Dahl, who scored the opening goal in the 24th minute. The Swedish full-back combined with Vangelis Pavlidis before beating goalkeeper Oliwer Zych to put Benfica ahead at the Estádio da Luz.
The goal carried special significance for the defender, as it was his first goal at Benfica’s home stadium. His attacking contribution broke the deadlock in a match in which the Eagles needed to turn their early dominance into a tangible advantage.
“It was a difficult match. We are back home with our fans, and it is a special feeling to achieve this victory and score this goal. It does not happen often, but when it does, it feels great,” the Swedish defender said in the mixed zone. “It is incredible. Being able to do this at home with our loved ones is a wonderful feeling that I will always remember.”
Dahl also boasts a notable statistic against Vitória Guimarães. His first two Liga Portugal goals for Benfica have both come against the Minho-based side. The first arrived on November 1, 2025, in a 3-0 away win in Guimarães, while his second opened the scoring in Lisbon.
His performance underlined the importance of attacking contributions from the back line and Benfica’s ability to find solutions through different avenues. Alongside Sudakov’s strike, Dahl’s goal secured three crucial points following the defeat to Porto.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM BENFICA’S LIGA PORTUGAL WIN
- BOUNCE-BACK AFTER DEFEAT TO PORTO: Benfica beat Vitória Guimarães 2-0 to regain confidence in Liga Portugal.
- MARCO SILVA CALLS FOR BETTER FINISHING: The Eagles dominated the match but need to be more clinical to turn their chances into a bigger lead.
- DAHL SHINES AT THE ESTÁDIO DA LUZ: Swedish defender Samuel Dahl scored his first goal at Benfica’s home ground and found the net again against his favorite opponent, Vitória Guimarães.
Heorhii Sudakov
SL Benfica
Samuel Elias Dahl
SL Benfica
