LISBON, Portugal — Benfica secured a 3-0 home victory over Vitória S.C. on Saturday, March 21, at the Estádio da Luz. Colombian midfielder Richard Ríos dictated the tempo and provided two critical assists to push the club to 65 points in the 2025-2026 Liga Portugal Betclic standings. The win temporarily moves Benfica into second place as they maintain pressure on league leaders FC Porto.
Ríos initiated the scoring early, setting up Gianluca Prestianni for the opening goal in the 14th minute. The 25-year-old midfielder struck again early in the second half, threading a pass to Evangelos Pavlidis in the 55th minute to double the lead. A Vitória own goal in the 74th minute finalized the 3-0 scoreline.
Speaking to the media following the final whistle, Ríos highlighted the impact of manager José Mourinho’s preparation. “Quando temos mais tempo de trabalho é mais fácil,” Ríos stated, noting that an extended week of training allowed the squad to better execute specific tactical instructions. The performance marks a sharp turnaround for Ríos, who transferred to Benfica from Palmeiras in the summer of 2025 for a reported fee exceeding €20 million. Despite scoring his debut goal in a 2-1 win against Arouca a week prior, he had faced heavy scrutiny from the Portuguese press over his passing accuracy and decision-making under pressure following a brief stint on the sidelines with a shoulder injury in early 2026.