Last boss to beat Benfica in Liga is jobless, says: Hard to beat Benfica | OneFootball

João Pereira, 34, remains the last coach to defeat Benfica in a Portuguese league match. The feat came on 25 January 2025, in the 19th round of the Liga, when he was in charge of Casa Pia — precisely the Eagles’ next opponent, in the second round of the 2026/27 Liga. Marco Silva has already given a brief preview.

João Pereira recalled the 3-1 win and highlighted how difficult it is to overcome a team of Benfica’s stature: “Blowing our own trumpet a little and looking back at that match, the fact that their last defeat was against us already shows how hard it is to beat Benfica — it’s always difficult. The favoritism will always be very much on Benfica’s side,” the coach told newspaper 'A Bola'.

João Pereira acknowledges the difference in resources and status between the two clubs, but he also issued a warning to Marco Silva’s side: playing against an opponent like Benfica.

For João Pereira, the psychological factor could play an important role in a match in which Benfica are clear favorites. The coach pointed precisely to the win secured in January 2025 as proof that Casa Pia are capable of defying the Eagles’ theoretical superiority.

At the time, the Lisbon side won 3-1, with goals from Cassiano in the 32nd minute, Nuno Moreira in the 60th, and Jérémy Livolant deep into stoppage time. Ángel Di María scored Benfica’s only goal, in the 14th minute. João Pereira also recalled the week of preparation leading up to that match, explaining that the result came from a combination of several factors and not merely from an occasionally inspired display.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.