Benfica get first Champions League win of the season

It took five games into the League Phase of the Champions League but Benfica finally got their first win of the competition, when they traveled to the Netherlands and defeated fellow cellar dweller Ajax 2-0.

The win provides the club with a sliver of hope of moving into the playoffs of the competition but with Napoli, Juventus and Real Madrid remaining on their schedule, the club will be in tough to advance again into the knockout rounds.

Benfica got a first half goal from Samuel Dahl, the club's first goal since the first half of their opening game and an injury time goal from Leandro Barreiro in the second half to seal the victory for the Lisbon side.

Jose Mourinho earned his first competitive victory in the competition not including qualifiers since he was on the sideline of Manchester United in December of 2017. 

Benfica will next host Napoli at the Luz on December 10. 

Benfica's Mourinho meltdowns continue after Taca victory

Benfica manager Jose Mourinho expressed strong frustration with his club after their 2-0 victory over third division side Atletico in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal.

Mourinho was particularly upset with his clubs first half performance as they went into the half in a scoreless draw, stating that the club was not mentally present on the field and displayed an unacceptable attitude and lack of professionalism.

The club manager made four substitutions at the half but wish he was able to sub nine of his players off if it was possible. Instead he yanked out Franjo Ivanovic, Enzo Barrenenchea, Tomas Araujo and Joao Rego, replacing them with Ricardo Rios, Leandro Barreiro, Samuel Dahl and Andreas Schjelderup.

The changes seemed to spark the club who scored a pair of goals in the middle of the half with Ricardo Rios getting his head on a Fredrik Aursnes corner and Vangelis Pavlidis scoring from the penalty spot.

These type of lackluster performances do not bode well with the club looking for their first Champions League points of the season as they travel to Amsterdam to take on Ajax in a battle of cellar dwellers on Tuesday.

Mourinho will be hoping for a better overall performance from the club going forward with a couple of important Champions League games coming up and a Lisbon derby against Sporting sandwiched between the two. 

 

Benfica's winter transfer ambitions looks to include targeting another striker

As the winter transfer window approaches in January, Benfica is reportedly looking to circle back to Union Saint-Gilloise's prolific striker Promise David. The club was said to have some interest in David during the summer window but decided to acquire teammate Franjo Ivanovic, in a move that has not panned out for the club.

The 24 year old Canadian striker joined Saint-Gilloise in the summer of 2024 from Estonia side Kalju for a rock bottom price of €600K and is signed with the Belgian club until the summer of 2029. David has appeared in 59 games for Saint-Gilloise across all competitions since joining the club, scoring 31 goals while providing five helpers.

David represents a dynamic addition to Benfica's attack with his speed, aerial ability and clinical finishing. Sources indicate that Benfica would need to splash a potential €15-20 million bid to get Saint-Gilloise's to the negotiating table. A move for David would bolster the club's number nine position and provide competition for current starter Vangelis Pavlidis.

This move would likely coincide with a loan out for summer signing Franjo Ivanovic. The 22 year old Croatian, acquired from Saint-Gilloise for €22.8 million in the summer, has struggled for form and minutes under Jose Mourinho, scoring just four goals in limited appearances. A loan for regular playing time would open up a roster spot while freeing up wages.

Benfica fans would hope this swap would reinvigorate their title challenge in the Portuguese League, where they trail current league leaders FC Porto by six points, eleven games into the seasons.