Rafa Silva returns to Benfica XI in Alverca win

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·10 February 2026

Rafa Silva returns to Benfica XI in Alverca win

Rafa Silva returned to Benfica’s starting XI as they beat Alverca 2-1.

He played most of the game against his youth club and fashioned several openings. The points were secured by Andreas Schjelderup, then Anísio Cabral. According to O Jogo, it was his first Benfica start in roughly 21 months.

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His previous start came on 12 May 2024 against Arouca under Roger Schmidt, a 5-0 win.

That appearance arrived near the end of his initial spell, which concluded after 2023/24 before he moved to Besiktas of Türkiye.

This season, Rafa Silva, valued at 5 million euros, has made three appearances since returning. He has totalled 133 minutes in Liga Portugal Betclic and shown encouraging signs.

Source: Glorioso 1904