When a team scores, there is little to say about the fairness of the goal scorer. But it is not always the case. Benfica dominated Rio Ave in Luz for a long time and only managed to take the lead in the second half after Aderllan was sent off from the village.
For the third game in a row, Schmidt presented the same eleven. Everything even started well, Rafa almost scored, but then Rio Ave took the initiative. He scored thanks to Guge, but could have done even better if not for Trubin’s safety with two crucial saves.
It was in the transition period that Benfica achieved a draw, but did not deserve it. Rafa heads into the penalty area, looks up and passes to Di Maria. Firstly, the Argentine scored a good goal that calmed the Red hosts.
Almost immediately after, Joao Mario tested goalkeeper Jonathan, who made an impressive save to avoid a 2-1 score, which would have been very unfair given what Vila Condenses were doing at the Estádio da Luz.
Nothing changed in the second half. Rio Ave started with two goals hitting the post.
At a moment when Benfica could not find an antidote to achieve the opposite goals, Aderllan was sent off with a double yellow card. Almost immediately after this, Antonio Silva scored Benfica’s second goal in a very confusing move.
Since then, Rio Ave has fallen apart and conceded two more goals. First with the strengthening of Marcos Leonardo and, almost at the end of the match, with Joao Mario, after excellent help from Rafa.
Benfica ends the first half of the league with a difficult victory that leaves a 1-point gap to leaders Sporting.