Art, skill and quality!

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Moments of collective and individual quality underlined the fairness of Benfica's 1-4 win over Al Nassr on Thursday, July 20, at Estádio Algarve, in the Eagles' first game in the Algarve Trophy. Di María, a Gonçalo Ramos brace and Schjelderup built up the lead for the Reds, who against RC Celta this Friday at 8:30 pm in the same venue to decide who wins the tournament.

Nearly 20,000 Benfiquistas watched and vibrated with another test of Roger Schmidt's side in the 2023/24 pre-season, which excelled in quality football and relentless pursuit of the opposing goal.

With Odysseas, Bah, António Silva, Morato, Jurásek, João Neves, Kökcü, Neres, Di María, Rafa and Gonçalo Ramos in the starting lineup,Benfica saw the Saudi side create danger in the first minute of the match when Talisca shot against João Neves, leading to the ball passing close to Odysseas' left post.

Benfica's collective work then had moments of magnificence: an excellent combination between Di María and Rafa, with the world champion finishing the play with a classy individual move to make it 0-1, chipping the ball over Nawaf.

In the 31st minute, Gonçalo Ramos finished off a new collective play of great distinction: Di María, with his back heel, played the ball to Rafa, who assisted the No. 9 for the final touch (0-2). The VAR analyzed Gonçalo Ramos' position, and the goal was validated.

In the next minute, at 38', Gonçalo Ramos scored his second! Bah recovered the ball in the final third, on the right, in another of the many pressure actions, passed the ball to the forward, who buried the ball in the back of the net (0-3).

In the 42nd minute, after a free kick from Di María, in which the ball went over the bar, Khalid, assisted by Talisca, reduced the difference on the scoreboard (1-3).

In the second half, Benfica took the field with a new eleven: Samuel Soares, João Victor, Lucas Veríssimo, Tomás Araújo, Mihailo, Florentino, Chiquinho, João Mário, Aursnes, Schjelderup and Musa. 

The next minute, at 68', Schjelderup scored another goal for the Glorioso. Mihailo's low, violent shot was incompletely saved by Nawaf, and the young Norwegian, at the far post, successfully put the ball in the back of the net (1-4).

Benfica beat Al Nassr by 1-4 (for tie-breaking purposes, a 5-5 penalty shootout was recorded), facing this Friday, at 8:30 pm, at the same venue, the Spaniards of RC Celta de Vigo to decide the winner of the competition.