Fans had been waiting, and finally, the moment arrived. Sudakov, the new Ukrainian talent, stepped onto the field for Benfica, wearing the famous Eagles’ jersey for the first time. The reception for the creative player was nothing short of spectacular. A roar of approval filled the stadium as coach Bruno Lage sent him into the game during the second half.
The show of support for Sudakov began even earlier. Before the half-time whistle, he drew cheers from the crowd as he warmed up by the touchline. This followed an initial wave of applause when his name was announced over the loudspeakers before the match even started. Clearly, the supporters were eager to welcome their new reinforcement.
Earlier in the day, as the team made their entrance at Luz, some players walked onto the pitch. Sudakov was among them, with teammate Trubin by his side. He took a moment to capture the scene, snapping a few photos of the stadium. It was a personal way to connect with what is now his new home ground.