Benfica suffered its first defeat of the 2022/2023 football season on Sunday, losing 1-0 to Spanish side Sevilla in a friendly at Estádio Algarve, decided in the second half with a goal from Ivan Rakitic.
In a preliminary game, in which Roger Schmidt fielded two different teams in each half, the second lines could not prevent the first defeat of the German coach in the service of the Reds, in the 34th game – 27 officials and six privates – against the only goal from the experienced Croatian midfielder, in the 61st minute.
Benfica returned to the Algarve, where they had already been in pre-season, and now took advantage of the break for the 2022 World Cup and the three-week break between matches in the League Cup: they had not competed since November 26 and the players went back to work this week after a 10 day mini vacation.
The big news in the red eleven was experienced right-back André Almeida, who has yet to make any minutes in official matches this season, as world champion Alexander Bah is still absent following Denmark’s elimination in the group stage of the team. competition that occurs in Qatar.
With a more urgent start, Roger Schmidt’s team got the first threats, by Grimaldo, after five minutes, and Musa (10), while Draxler could not dominate Diogo Gonçalves’ pass to Dmitrovic’s ‘face’ and lost time in the finish (20) .
With the Spaniards, in which only the Serbs Dmitrovic and Gudelj were on the field of their 10 representatives at the World Cup, it was the ex-Sporting midfielder, today one of three central defenders, who scored the first shot on target in a shot from the middle da rua’ for the defense of Helton Leite (26).
The game continued at half-time at a pre-season pace, but the goal came close to both goals, first in a shot over Rafa Mir, following a cross from Óliver Torres (33), then by Rafa Silva, who entered the game with Dmitrovic allowed the goalkeeper’s defense (40), and also by Jordán, who shot wide after a good move by the Andalusians (45+2).
For the second half, Roger Schmidt changed the whole team, focusing on the inclusion of Norwegian Aursnes, recovered from the muscle injury that has prevented him from participating since early November.
The quality of the ‘red’ football deteriorated and the Spaniards, playing a championship below expectations – in 18th place, in the relegation zone – took the lead after 61 minutes, which was reflected in the scoreboard with the goal from Rakitic, in a placed shot into the right corner of the goal defended by Portugal under-21 international Samuel Soares.
Until the final whistle, only Rodrigo Pinho (72) and Henrique Araújo (90+3) threatened with a draw, while Roger Schmidt was injured in the 77th minute to David Neres João Neves, an 18-year-old midfielder, who was part of last year of the winning team of the UEFA Youth League, his debut in the first team.
Benfica will return to official duties this Saturday, with an obligation to win at Moreirense’s ground to finish first in Group C and guarantee qualification for the League Cup quarter-finals.
Source: DN
