Sometimes, the most telling football matches don’t have goals. That was the scene this Wednesday morning at José Gomes Stadium in Reboleira. Estrela da Amadora and Belenenses faced off in a pre-season friendly, and the scoreboard stayed locked at zero for both sides.
Pre-season games are less about winning and more about trying out new ideas. Coaches use these chances to see how their players fit together. It’s like a chef testing new ingredients before a big dinner.
Estrela’s Opening Moves
José Faria, who leads Estrela da Amadora, started with a clear lineup. His “Tricolors” began the match hoping to find their rhythm. Here is who took the field:
- Goalkeeper: Renan Ribeiro
- Defenders: Luan Patrick, Bernardo Schappo, Ni Rodrigues
- Midfielders: Jefferson Encada, Amine, Paulo Moreira, Guilherme Montóia
- Forwards: Abraham Marcus, João Resende, Alan Godoy
The club did not say which substitute players came into the game for Estrela.
Belenenses Tests Its Players
For Belenenses, coach João Nuno had his own plans. His “Blues” started with this group:
- Goalkeeper: Gonçalo Pinto
- Defenders: João Machado, Jorge Teixeira, Nuno Tomás, Evandro Barros
- Midfielders: Tiago Morgado, Diogo Paulo, Afonso Valente
- Forwards: David Rebelo, Diogo Leitão, Midana Sambú
As the second half kicked off, Belenenses made some major changes. They wanted to give more players a chance to show what they could do. The team, sometimes called the “Restelo squad,” looked like this after the break:
- Goalkeeper: Guilherme Oliveira
- Defenders: João Machado, Afonso Pinto, Nuno Tomás, Evandro Barros
- Midfielders: Cuca, Tiago Morgado, Afonso Afonso
- Forwards: Camilo Acosta, Nikson Moreira, Midana Sambú
Later in the game, João Gonçalinho, Emergildo Moreira, Diogo Correia, and Tiago Moninhas also entered the match for Belenenses.
Building on the Past, Looking to the Future
This draw comes after mixed results for both teams. Estrela da Amadora had a good start to their pre-season, beating Celtic 3-2 in their first friendly match. Belenenses, however, was still looking for a win, having lost 2-1 to Estoril earlier.
Both teams will hit the field again this coming Saturday. Estrela da Amadora will play 1.º Dezembro. Belenenses will travel to face Alcochetense. These matches are more steps on their journey toward the new season.