A few days after suffering a tough 6-1 loss to Sporting in the Super Cup, Benfica faced a big test. They traveled to Braga for the opening match of the Liga Placard. The champions needed to show resilience and start their title defense strong. They delivered a 2-1 victory, but it was far from easy.
The game began with a bang and a bit of drama for the Eagles. Just two minutes in, Silvestre surprised Braga’s goalkeeper Dudu with a shot that found the net. Benfica seemed in control, but they also missed two penalty kicks, one early and one late in the first half. André Coelho and Afonso Jesus both failed to convert, keeping Braga in the game. Braga, looking to challenge the Lisbon giants, slowly found their footing. Their efforts were complicated when Henmi received a red card in the 19th minute.
The second half continued with intense action. André Coelho nearly made up for his missed penalty, hitting the crossbar in the 28th minute. Not long after, Hugo Neves brought the home crowd to its feet, scoring the equalizer for Braga. The stadium erupted in celebration. However, Benfica, the reigning champions, quickly responded. Three minutes later, Higor unleashed a powerful shot that rocketed into the back of the net, putting the Eagles ahead once more.
The final minutes were a true test of Benfica’s resolve. Trailing by a single goal, Braga’s coach Joel Rocha pulled out a bold tactic, employing a 5×4 power play. Benfica had to dig deep and defend fiercely against the extra attacker. They held on tightly, surviving the late surge. It was a hard-fought win, securing three crucial points and a much-needed morale boost to kick off their campaign.
