The air was thick with expectation. Two giants of the pitch, Sporting and Benfica, clashed in the Cândido de Oliveira Supercup. While the final score tells one story, the numbers hidden beneath the surface paint a much richer picture. It was a game decided not just by goals, but by small victories, missed chances, and a touch of surprising luck.
The Hidden Battle for Control
Sporting seemed to take charge early, holding onto the ball for long stretches. Yet, a closer look showed a different truth. Benfica quietly dominated what we call “field tilt”—possession deep in their opponent’s territory. They kept the pressure on Sporting’s defense for most of the game. Sporting only managed to get a respectable 46 percent of this crucial field tilt in the final fifteen minutes. It was a subtle, tactical win for Benfica that often goes unnoticed.
Winning the Grinding Fight
This match was also a physical tussle. Benfica might have lost more one-on-one duels in the first half. But they turned things around completely. By the final whistle, Benfica had won 64 duels compared to Sporting’s 58. Two players stood out in this comeback: Richard Ríos, the Colombian midfielder, won 13 of his battles. Leandro Barreiro, from Luxembourg, added 10 more wins. Their hard work helped Benfica gain a firm grip on the midfield as the game wore on.
When Chances Go Begging
Coach Rui Borges’ team, Sporting, will look back at this game and know they left a goal on the field. They took more shots, 13 in total. Their expected goals (xG) figure was also higher, at 0.83, meaning they created better scoring opportunities. But good chances slipped away. A clear miss by Sporting player Pote, for instance, proved costly. Their inability to finish those chances truly derailed Sporting’s hopes in this big game.
The Shot That Shouldn’t Have Been
Then came the moment that settled the Supercup. Pavlidis delivered the winning strike. What makes it remarkable is how unlikely it was. Data shows that shot had only a 4 percent chance of finding the net. It seemed to defy the odds, getting a crucial “help” from Sporting goalkeeper Rui Silva. Pavlidis only took two shots all game. His second one, however, also tested the keeper, this time with much more power.
A Difficult Night for Harder
Young Danish forward Conrad Harder started the match, but it wasn’t his night. His performance brought back memories of coach Rui Borges’ tough words for him last season. Harder struggled to make an impact, winning only two out of eleven duduels he contested. He also lost possession ten times out of the twenty-four times he had the ball. It was a tough lesson on a big stage for the young player.