The scoreboard told a tough story for Benfica in Italy. Coach Ivan Baptista felt the sting of defeat against Juventus. Yet, he made sure everyone knew his team showed real heart in a tough stadium. He admired their performance on Italian soil.
Stepping onto that pitch was never going to be easy. Facing such a strong opponent in their home arena demands a certain spirit. Baptista noted his players rose to the challenge. They came out with grit, determined to battle for every minute of the match. He felt they truly delivered on that promise from the first whistle.
Benfica started strong, controlling the ball for the first five minutes. They even found the net with a well-worked goal. Then, a moment of hesitation crept in. The team lost a bit of its composure. Juventus seized this chance, pushing hard for about fifteen minutes. This pressure eventually paid off with their equalizing goal.
Halftime brought a chance to reset. The coaching staff realized they needed to defend the field’s edges better. They also wanted to push their defensive line higher up the pitch. This wasn’t about playing more defensively; it was the opposite. After the break, Benfica found it easier to pressure Juventus’s defenders. They also made cleaner plays when attacking quickly. This opened up spaces that weren’t there before the interval.
Football can be a tough teacher. Benfica had handled most set plays with skill throughout the game. They defended countless dangerous moments well. Yet, the decisive goal came from one such situation. It happened when perhaps even Juventus didn’t expect to score, in a second half that felt very even. There weren’t many clear chances for either side. Baptista stressed the team’s deep conviction. He said their strong, spirited start showed they truly believed in themselves.