Marco Silva era commences with two slaps to face in Europa League loss

In a sobering start to the 2026-27 season, Benfica fell to a 2-1 defeat away to Swiss side St. Gallen in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round. For new head coach Marco Silva, it was a harsh introduction to the competitive season at the club, one that felt like two sharp slaps to the face on what should have been a night of promise even with a squad missing more than a handful of regulars thanks to the World Cup and injuries.

St. Gallen took a deserved lead in the 37th minute when Aliou Balde finished clinically from a tight angle beating Benfica keeper Anatoliy Trubin high after a high recovery and quick transition down the left side of the field. The goal exposed Benfica's vulnerabilities in possession and defensive organization. The Eagles would respond quickly, just before halftime through Rafa Silva, who slotted home  the ball following a fast break involving Vangelis Pavlidis. However, the hosts  would regain the lead in the 80th minute as Tom Gaal headed home unmarked from a Lukas Daschner free-kick, capitalizing on Benfica's continued poor marking.

Benfica struggled with ball retention against St. Gallen's intense pressing, looked disjointed in the midfield and lacked sharpness, partly due to several key players missing from the squad for the contest. Possession favored the visitors on paper, but St. Gallen created more danger and showed greater cohesion under coach Enrico Maassen. Errors in transition and marking proved costly for Silva's side on this night.

Despite the loss, there is tangible hope for the return leg at the Estadio da Luz next Thursday on July 30. Several World Cup participants, that include Tomas Araujo, Amar Dedic, Richard Rios, Andreas Schjelderup, Dodi Lukebakio and Fredrik Aursnes, are set to integrate with the club. With reinforcements like Clement Lenglet and Jakub Kaminski already in the squad, Benfica should field a far stronger and fitter XI capable of overturning the one-goal deficit at home.

Silva's debut exposed the challenges of an early European tie with a transitional squad, but the tie remains very much alive. A response in Lisbon will be essential to silence early doubters and launch the new era positively or this could be a long season and it's only July.

Benfica ready to kick off Europa League action Thursday

Benfica will kick off their Europa League campaign this Thursday when they travel to Switzerland to take on St. Gallen in a first leg contest before returning home on July 30 for the second leg.

Benfica enter the competitions second round qualifying stage and will be looking to advance to the third round with a victory where they would face the loser of the Sturm Graz and Hearts, Champions League two leg qualifier in the third qualifying round.

If Benfica were not to get past St. Gallen they would drop to the Conference League were they would take on the winner of Sheriff or Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the 3rd qualifying round.

Benfica are playing their earliest competitive match ever for a UEFA competition which is quite shocking for a club that came off an undefeated league season. Thanks to Torreense's triumph in the Taca de Portugal they took away the Eagles automatic entry to the league phase of the competition.

Benfica poised to secure Jhon Duran on loan from Al-Nassr

Benfica are on the verge of landing Colombian striker Jhon Duran on a season-long loan from Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr. The 22-year-old striker, known for his explosive pace, physicality and clinical finishing, could provide a dynamic option in the Portuguese League as Benfica looks to bolster their attacking options up front.

Details of the deal indicate that Al-Nassr will continue to cover a significant portion of Duran’s high salary, reportedly in the region of €15.3 million annually, with Benfica assuming a smaller share. This arrangement helps the Eagles manage their wage bill while securing a high potential talent. Reports suggest the loan may include a buy option, though it will not be a mandatory buy option.

Duran’s career has been nomadic yet productive. He began at Envigado in Colombia, scoring 9 goals in 47 appearances, before moving to MLS side Chicago Fire . A £18m switch to Aston Villa in January 2023 saw him net 20 goals in 78 matches, often as a high-impact substitute, which included strong Champions League showings.

In January 2025, he joined Al-Nassr for €77 million to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, scoring 12 goals in 18 appearances before being loaned to Fenerbahce and Zenit last season.  At just 22, Duran brings versatility, aerial ability and is a proven goal scoring threat. For Benfica, this move represents a low-risk, high-reward gamble on a player with international experience with Colombia and success in Lisbon could revive his trajectory back toward the elite level.