Benfica One Month of Bruno Lage X-Ray

It's an attacking, forceful Benfica that we have seen since Bruno Lage took over as coach of the Eagles. The diversity on the way duels are won, the way goals are scored and the way opponents are closed down.

Against Santa Clara (W 4-1), Estrela Vermelha (W 1-2), Boavista (W 0-3), Gil Vicente (W 5-1) and Atlético de Madrid (W 4-0), the Reds scored 18 goals and conceded only 3, averaging 3.6 goals per game and conceding just 0.6. In the National Championship, the record is more impressive in offensive terms (average of 4 goals per game), but in the Champions League the defensive solidity component is even stronger (0.5 goals conceded per game).

The diversification of how Benfica score goals is supported by clear data. First of all, there were 11 players who put the ball in the back of the net, and 9 of them had assists.

There was also variety in the way the goals were scored, or they wouldn't have come in all shapes and forms, especially with a laboratory mark that attests to meticulous preparation in the search for success. Eight of the 18 goals came from set pieces.

Dominant in terms of ball possession (54%) and with an average of 14.91 shots per game, of which 6.75 were on target, the Reds were also remarkably accurate in terms of passing (87%), making 17.41 tackles/clearances and 13.33 dribbles on average per game.

LEAGUE EXPRESSES DOMINANCE

When we look at the Liga Betclic, we see Benfica growing in dominance over their opponents, to which they have imposed solid victories. Data such as ball possession (59%), shots (15.33 per game), shots on target (7 per game) and average pass accuracy (87.5%), among others, are relevant indicators of performance and success.

In the three matches played in the National Championship, against Santa Clara, Boavista and Gil Vicente, Benfica created an average of 5.33 major goal chances. Defensively, the Reds were equally assertive, allowing only 2.33 shots on target, and 3.33 missed the target. With 7.33 interceptions per game, the Eagles won 49.31% (36 out of 73) of their duels on the ground and 66.1% (41 out of 62) of the aerials.

RIGOR WITH BRILLIANCE IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

In the Champions League, the rigor and efficiency of the Benfica team also deserves a lot of praise. With two games played in the competition, against Red Star (W 1-2) and Atlético de Madrid (W 4-0), Benfica are among the leaders in the competition, with 6 points, occupying 3rd position, with 6 goals scored (3 per game) and 1 conceded (0.5 per game).

In terms of chances created, the Reds are the 12th best team in the competition, with 29 shots. And 13 of those shots were on target (7th best team in this parameter). Benfica are also the team with the most successful crosses among the 36 participants in the league phase of the Champions League, with a 47.4% (9/19) success rate, and have also recorded an average of 15 dribbles per game so far.

Following the match with Atlético de Madrid – in which the Estádio da Luz had the highest attendance of the 2024/25 season, with 62,028 spectators – Benfica became the 2nd team with the most balls recovered (94), the 3rd with the most tackles/clearances won (17).

Two other figures show the team's ability in the defensive process: Benfica are the 5th team to have committed the fewest fouls (17) and the 2nd team in which the goalkeeper – in this case Trubin – has made the fewest saves (2). Individually, Florentino is the player with the most balls recovered in the Champions League's league stage (23) and also the one who ran the most kilometers (25.42).