Benfica throw away two-goal lead as Qarabag pull off shock 3-2 Champions League win in Lisbon | OneFootball

SL Benfica 2-3 Qarabağ FK

Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and Napoli will all visit the Estádio da Luz in the coming months but Benfica kicked off the UEFA Champions League league stage by welcoming Azerbaijan champions Qarabağ FK on Tuesday night. It was an apparently favourable clash for the Lisbon giants with the Eagles entering the game as heavy favourites to take all three points. Bruno Lage’s side, however, were put to the test by a spirited and energetic Qarabağ side that challenged them early on and matched them every step of the way.

Benfica took a commanding lead, scoring twice in the first 16 minutes. The visitor, however, responded with a goal in the 30th minute and stunned the home supporters after levelling early in the second half. The Eagles were left frustrated by a well organised Qarabağ defence, and as the game progressed, the home side were stunned with a late knockout blow. Substitute Oleksii Kashchuk came on to record the winner in the 86th minute and pull off a historic upset for the Azerbaijan club.

Benfica go into the break with 2-1 lead after frantic first half

Lage has remained relatively consistent with his starting lineup over the first two months of the season and refrained from making any major changes to a Benfica team that were yet to lose a match this season.

Bosnia and Herzegovina international Amar Dedić returned to the lineup after missing the weekend’s match against Santa Clara due to a suspension. The other notable addition to the starting eleven was Ukrainian Georgiy Sudakov, who was handed his first-ever start for Benfica after his highly publicised move from Shakhtar Donetsk. The attacking midfielder was handed the No. 10 shirt upon his arrival and is expected to take on a pivotal role for the Eagles, playing just behind Vangelis Pavlidis.

Sudakov made his presence felt in the opening minutes, getting involved in the action right away. Benfica earned their first corner of the match in the fifth minute and capitalised on some poor defending. It was an unlikely name that broke the deadlock, with defensive midfielder Barrenechea connecting with a beautifully weighted corner from Sudakov into the penalty area. Barrenechea was unmarked and was barely touched as he leaped onto the ball on the edge of the six-yard box, angling it across the goal it into the far post.

Enzo Barrenechea heads Benfica into the lead. (Photo: Arlindo Homem ©)

Benfica continued to push forward. Aursnes almost connected with Dedić on a well timed overlapping run in the 9th minute. The keeper, though, was alert and gathered the ball just before the full-back arrived. Aursnes and Dedić continued to work well together down the right side, with Aursnes drifting into the centre and causing problems as the full-back manned the wing.

Sudakov was once again involved for the second goal. In the 15th minute the midfielder found himself with the space just outside the penalty area. After turning, he was able to spot Pavlidis’ run and play a cutting pass. The Ukrainian may consider himself fortunate after the ball bounced off Qarabağ central defenders Kevin Medina and Bahlul Mustafazada and landed at the feet of Pavlidis. The Greek striker was left one-on-one with the keeper inside the box and produced a casual right-footed finish to record his fourth goal of the 2025-26 campaign.

Qarabağ, to their credit, did not fold and did not sit back. The 12-time Azerbaijan league winners stuck with their formation and continued to press up the pitch. Gurban Gurbanov remained with central midfielder hovering above his back four, but continued to push players forward and press Benfica’s defenders.

Portuguese-born Andrade scores for Qarabağ

Qarabağ were eventually rewarded for their courage. The visitors pulled one back in the 30th minute taking advantage when a free kick from the left side of the field was lofted into the box. Benfica’s defenders were unable to clear the danger and it fell at the feet of Leandro Andrade. The Portuguese-born forward rocketed a half-volley past Trubin and into the right side of the goal.

Shortly after their first goal, Qarabağ came close again in the 33rd minute. First, a Camilo Durán header flew just over the bar. Seconds later, a careless pass from António Silva handed the visitors a glorious opportunity to equalise. This time, it was Kady Borges who powered a shot off the post to the relief of Anatoliy Trubin. The danger was not over and from the rebound Trubin had to pull off a sharp save.

Bosnian right-back Amar Dedić returned to the Benfica lineup after suspension but did not have the same impact as in previous matches. (Photo: Arlindo Homem ©)

Richard Ríos then tried his luck with a long-range effort from the right side of the park. It was an ambitious attempt, and one that didn’t trouble keeper Mateusz Kochalski.

Just before the half, Durán managed to cleverly manoeuvre through the Benfica backline and had a chance to level the match. His shot, though, was well saved by Trubin. Qarabağ would have been confident after some fluid passing produced some dangerous chances in the first half. The visiting side matched Benfica every step of the way, and would have been disappointed going into the break trailing.

Benfica stunned by second-half goals

Qarabağ picked up where they left off in the first half. It didn’t take long for them to level the score. Duran had missed a few clear chances, but was finally able to get on the score sheet in the 48th minute. The Colombian latched onto a perfectly timed through ball from Mustafazada and found the right corner of the goal.

It was a shocking blow for the players and the crowd, with the Luz going silent after Benfica had given up an early two-goal advantage. Suddenly the Eagles were at risk of not only dropping points in their opening CL fixture, but possibly walking away with nothing from this match.

A stunned Benfica regrouped, and as their supporters grew into the match, the home side showed flashes of their quality. In the 54th minute, a driving run from Schjelderup ended with a pass to Rios in the penalty box. the Colombian did well to lose his defender, but his shot sailed wide of the target.

Dedic’s left-foot attempt also cleared the crossbar, but Lage’s side were starting to regain the advantage.

Qarabağ’s Mustafazada had the ball in the net once again in the 64th minute, but the Benfiquistas could breathe a sigh of relief once the assistant referee raised his flag for offside. It was a clear signal to Lage and his players that the visitors were unwilling to sit back and accept a point.

Benfica answered with an attack of their own. Pavlidis was unable to connect with a low cross into the box from the left side after some good defending.

Prestianni and Ivanovic enter the fray

In the 69th minute, Lage finally decided it was time for a change, bringing on Gianluca Prestianni and Franjo Ivanovic for Aursnes and Schjelderup. Pavlidis then emerged with what was probably Benfica’s best chance of the half up until that point, curling a teasing shot over the goal in the 73rd minute.

In the 79th minute, Lage brought on more fresh legs. Leandro Barreiro and Henrique Araújo were tasked with reviving a group that seemed to be running out of ideas.

Late substitutes Leandro Barreiro and Henrique Araújo were unable to turn the match in Benfica’s favour. (Photo: Arlindo Homem ©)

The changes, however, did not pan out as Lage may have hoped. In a remarkable twist, it was Qarabağ that found a late winner. Benfica’s defenders will have to hold their hands up after simply allowing the Azerbaijan side to tap the ball around in their penalty box. Substitute Oleksii Kashchuk found himself with all the time in the world to turn and fire in a low shot from eight yards out. It was in the simplest of finishes and one that Otamendi and Silva will be frustrated to have allowed.

Lage feeling the heat

What seemed like an exceptional start to the season for Benfica has now turned sour in a very short period of time for Lage and his players. After an uninspiring 2-1 win over newly promoted Alverca prior to the international break, Benfica were held to a 1-1 home draw against Santa Clara on Friday. Tuesday’s Champions League defeat will likely see the pressure pile up on the Portuguese manager, who will have to answer for a string of disappointing performances.

Benfica return to action this weekend when they face AVS in the Primeira Liga on Saturday, September 20.

Lineups:

Qarabağ FK: Mateusz Kochalski, Matheus Silva, Bahlul Mustafazada, Kevin Medina, Elvin Cafarquliyev (Toral Bayramov, 77’), Pedro Bicalho, Marko Jankovic (Oleksii Kashchuk, 77’), Kady Borges, Abdellah Zoubir, Leandro Andrade (Emmanuel Addai, 66’), Camilo Durán (Musa Qurbanly, 90’)

Goals: