THE Benfica beat Gil Vicente again this season, although this 4-1 victory earned access to the final four of the 2026/27 League Cup, with a match against FC Porto awaiting Marco Silva’s team in the semi-finals.
Lukebakio was the best of the match, with two well-achieved goals shared between the two halves, with Durán being one of the surprises, firstly for having played when everything pointed to that not being possible, and secondly for the good level he demonstrated on the field.
Sudakov also seems to be returning to what he showed and convinced Benfica to sign him and Samuel Dahl, who was adapted to the right, had some moments of adaptation, but managed to do the job to maintain the Reds’ advantage.
The least positive point of the game ended up being the expulsion of Espigares, right after Benfica’s fourth goal, which caused talk in the flash interviews after the final whistle, with Luís Pinto asking for the same treatment that was given to Jhon Durán for the Gil Vicente athlete.
But let’s go to the game notes.
Figure
It is unacceptable to say that Dodi Lukebakio It wasn’t the best part of this match, which even had many beautiful goals, but the impact that the Belgian international had on the field was resounding and left, once again, Marco Silva with doubts about what to do, as there are many good players for all positions, but they can only play 11 at a time.
The artistic note of the number 11 shirt was able to create an even stronger connection with the fans at Estádio da Luz, even though it is not (at least for now) the favorite of the red attacking wings.
Surprise
From being sent off and playing to putting on a consistent performance and scoring. John Duran he was the center of attention even before the match started, due to the controversial decision – as it set a precedent for the future in Portugal – of letting him go into the game, but the truth is that he wanted to score the goal, helped by his colleagues who were forcing the passes when the match was already resolved, and he was at a good enough level to mark his ‘territory’ in the hierarchy of Benfica’s strikers.
Disillusionment
He didn’t play a horrible game, but he ended up taking on Rafa Silva, at a time when the final result wouldn’t have any implications for the winner of the tie. Antonio Espigares saw a red card and raised a debate that promises to be intense in the coming days, if his punishment is not lifted, even though this expulsion has more ‘legs to walk’ than that of Benfica’s Colombian striker.
Coaches
Marco Silva
It’s starting to be a constant headache being coach of this Benfica team and, this time, it’s not for the worst reasons. The Portuguese coach has this squad playing at a uniform level, in which, as Jorge Jesus said a few years ago, if António doesn’t play, Manel plays, such is the ability to rotate 11 players and maintain quality at the same level. That’s a good problem for a coach, and one that everyone would like to have at a global level.
Luis Pinto
It is undeniable that Gil Vicente is ready to take the leap on the national scene, but the truth is that they found a ‘super Benfica’ in front of them, who didn’t stand a chance with a secondary team. However, the Barcelos rooster has good football and good players, capable of giving headaches to any team in this national championship, and can aim for greater heights at the end of the season.
Arbitration
José Bessa he was cohesive in the way he refereed this match at Estádio da Luz, maintaining the same criteria throughout the match, even though he had a light hand when showing yellow cards in the second half. Overall, a good performance.
