Benfica beat Tondela 3-0 at Estádio da Luz | OneFootball

Benfica got back to winning ways in the Primeira Liga after recording a comfortable 3-0 victory against Tondela at Estádio da Luz.

Vangelis Pavlidis tested Bernardo Fontes twice early on before the Eagles took the lead in the 31st minute, Amar Dedic sending Franjo Ivanovic through on goal where the Croatian beat Bernardo Fontes.

Bruno Lage's side stayed on the front foot and extended their advantage in the 42nd minute, Andreas Schjelderup finding Fredrik Aursnes who smashed the ball past the Brazilian goalkeeper.

Tondela were awarded a penalty after the break which was changed to a free kick following a VAR intervention. The visitors never looked like scoring from that moment on.

Benfica controlled the remainder of the contest, Nicolás Otamendi and Vangelis Pavlidis denied by Tiago Manso who made two goal line clearances. Gianluca Prestianni netted a third goal deep in to added time, the Argentine volleying into the net after his initial shot had been blocked.

Benfica 3-0 Tondela

Vangelis Pavlidis tested Bernardo Fontes early on and forced the goalkeeper into another save from the resulting corner.

Tondela withstood the early pressure and fired a few warning shots of their own, Maranhão’s effort deflected wide and Emmanuel Maviram’s free kick saved by Samuel Soares.

The action returned to the other end, Fredrik Aursnes’ shot blocked by Maviram before Benfica broke the deadlock in the 31st minute. It came through the Balkan connection, Amar Dedic threading the ball through to Franjo Ivanovic who slotted it past Fontes.

The Eagles were well and truly on top, Pavlidis firing wide and creating a chance for Ivanovic that he fired into Fontes' head. The hosts wouldn’t be denied and doubled their advantage in the 42nd minute.

Andreas Schjelderup cut inside and found Aursnes who was left wide open in the box, the Norwegian taking a touch and powering the ball past the busy goalkeeper.

Tondela were denied shortly after the break when Yarlen skipped past Rafael Obrador and charged towards the box where he was taken down by the left-back. Anzhony Rodrigues pointed to the spot before the VAR overruled the referee, the foul occurring just outside the area.

That was as good as it got for the promoted side who chased the ball for the remainder of the match. Nicolás Otamendi’s goal bound effort was cleared by Tiago Manso and the defender came up big again in the 89th minute, getting back to head Pavlidis’ shot off the bar.

Richard Ríos was denied by Fontes in added time but Benfica’s persistence paid off with the last chance of the contest. Gianluca Prestianni’s shot was blocked but the ball came straight back to the Argentine who chested it down and volleyed into the net.

Routine victory

Benfica got the job done against a Tondela side that haven’t scored in three matches in their return to the top flight. Ivo Vieira’s side lost 3-0 in Braga and 1-0 against Famalicão in Rio Maior, the promoted club next to no chance of upsetting the odds at Estádio da Luz.

Bruno Lage had the luxury of making five changes to the side that started in the 0-0 draw at Fenerbahce with Anatoliy Trubin, António Silva, Samuel Dahl, Florentino and Kerem Aktürkoglu making way for Samuel Soares, Tomás Araújo, Rafael Obrador, Andreas Schjelderup and Franjo Ivanović.

The manager has some tough decisions to make before the return leg against José Mourinho’s side. One aspect where Lage has few concerns is defence, Benfica impressive at the back this season after keeping six consecutive clean sheets.

Tedious viewing experience

Football fans in Portugal are frequenty treated with contempt by Liga Portugal and the clubs themselves, namely the diabolical scheduling and all encompassing betting advertising. One of the highlights of the relationship has to be the deal that allows all Benfica home matches in the Primeira Liga to be broadcast exclusively on Benfica TV.

Benfica TV is only available with a separate subscription in addition to Sport TV, the Portuguese pay television service that broadcasts all the other matches in the top flight. In the current financial climate with inflation going through the roof and families struggling to make ends meet, it's yet another failure and slap in the face for football supporters in Portugal.

The most shameful part of the Benfica TV experience is the incessant advertising for an electonics company that are apparently in crisis control due to the appalling way they treat their own customers. It's ironic in more ways than one.