Benfica return to winning ways with dominant 4-0 win over Estrela Amadora at the Luz | OneFootball

SL Benfica 4-0 CF Estrela Amadora

If there was ever a game where José Mourinho needed a clean three points to demonstrate his progress and validate the vision for his Benfica project, this was it. The legendary Portuguese manager has been given a long rope, but with some new signings coming in over the window and three defeats in his last four matches, the pressure was mounting on Mourinho and Benfica to produce against an Amadora side that came into the match in 13th position.

The Eagles answered the call on Sunday evening with a comprehensive outing, a dominant 4-0 display that proved that while Benfica are lagging behind rivals FC Porto and Sporting CP, they should not be counted out of the title race just yet.

Vangelis Pavlidis, Sidny Cabral, and 17-year-old rising star Anísio Cabral were all able to get on the scoresheet to help the home side record their 13th league win of the campaign, taking their total to 45 points.

Estrela Amadora have suffered a series of poor results, and the 4-0 defeat at the Estádio da Luz leaves them hovering just four points above the relegation playoff spot. There wasn’t much to take positively from this game for the visitors, and they will need to improve if they hope to secure anything when they travel to Alverca next week.

Lineups: 

Benfica: Anatoliy Trubin, Daniel Banjaqui, António Silva, Nicolás Otamendi, Samuel Dahl, Fredrik Aursnes (Rafa Silva, 73’), Enzo Barrenechea (Leandro Martins, 46’), Sidny Cabral, Gianluca Prestianni (Andreas Schjelderup, 60’), Georgiy Sudakov (Diogo Prioste, 73’), Vangelis Pavlidis (Anísio Cabral, 83)

Estrela Amadora: Renan Ribeiro, Jefferson Encada, Luan Patrick, Bernardo Schappo, Otávio, Kevin Jansson (Alexandre Sola 65’), Paulo Moreira, Tom Moustier (Eddy Doué, 56’), Jorge Meireles (Alisson Souza, 75’), Ianis Stoica (Rodrigo Pinhho, 75’), Leandro Antonetti (Robinho, 75’)