Benfica starter booed by fans after defeat to St. Gallen | OneFootball

Benfica’s defeat to St. Gallen (2-1) in the first leg of the second Europa League qualifying round ended amid a highly charged atmosphere. At the end of the match, the Eagles’ fans made their displeasure clear, directing whistles and insults at the team, with António Silva emerging as one of the main targets.

Benfica’s performance in Switzerland fell well short of expectations and did not convince the thousands of Benfica supporters in the stands, who did not hide their frustration with the European start of Marco Silva’s side, coached by Marco Silva. Even so, amid the protests, there were also those who chose to applaud the team, in a show of support ahead of the second leg.

António Silva ended up attracting much of the criticism. The centre-back, who is very close to joining Bournemouth, heard several insults coming from the Benfica section, in a reaction that reflects the supporters’ dissatisfaction, both with the defeat and with the imminent departure of one of the team’s captains.

The atmosphere after the final whistle highlights the pressure being felt by Benfica’s squad at a decisive stage of the season. After the setback in Switzerland, Benfica is now obliged to respond at the Estádio da Luz, where they will have to turn the tie around to remain in the competition.

Beyond the sporting aspect, the backlash is also increasing the pressure on the structure led by Rui Costa, at a time when the transfer window remains open and António Silva’s departure seems increasingly close. If the transfer is confirmed, Benfica’s officials will have to find a solution to make up for the loss of one of the key figures in the heart of the defence.

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