Prestianni sparkles as Benfica ease into Europa League after 3-1 win at AGF Aarshus | OneFootball

Gianluca Prestianni, here celebrating after giving Benfica the lead, continued his superb form in Randers, Denmark tonight (EPA/Bo Amstrup - LUSA ©)

Benfica safely negotiated the final hurdle to the league phase of this season’s Europa League by beating AGF Aarshus 3-1 in Denmark in the playoff to complete a 6-2 aggregate victory.

The Eagles had dominated the first leg in Lisbon last week, where only a fantastic display by Norwegian goalkeeper Mads Hedenstad kept the margin of victory to two goals and allowed the Danes to dream of turning things around in their home stadium.

But an unchanged Benfica – whose Liga Portugal game at the weekend had been postponed to aid their chances of progress in European competition – never looked like losing control of the tie.

Leandro Barreiro twice came close early on and Benfica’s pressure told when Gianluca Prestianni’s shot skidded low into the corner of the net, a deflection off Rasmus Carstensen leaving the goalkeeper helpless.

Penalty reprieve for Benfica

AGF thought they had a lifeline shortly afterwards when the referee pointed to the penalty spot after a tangle between Enzo Barrenechea and Mikael Anderson, but after a VAR review he changed his mind.

Benfica continued on top with Prestianni and Pavlidis close to doubling the lead before the break.

Ten minutes into the second half Rafa Silva made it 2-0 with a left-footed finish from a Samuel Dahl assist. The Swedish defender was then unlucky to see a speculative shot by Carstensen strike his heel and loop over Samuel Soares on its way into the Benfica net.

Red-hot Prestianni strikes again

But Benfica immediately restored their two-goal buffer thanks to the goal of the night, the in-form Prestianni curling a superb angled shot into the top corner from 20 yards out.

Highly rated youngster Gonçalo Moreira came on and the attacking midfielder was close to scoring a fourth goal for Benfica with a close-ranger header that flew just the wrong side of the post.

Fresh faces, momentum and optimism at the Estádio da Luz

There was also time for new centre-back Allesandro Circati, the first Australian to ever play for Benfica, to make his debut for the Eagles.

It was Benfica’s fifth win in seven unbeaten games since the false start of the opening day defeat at St. Gallen.

Further boosted by the signing of long-term target João Palhinha earlier this week, Marco Silva’s side look to be building good momentum at the season gets into full swing.