Decisive against Rio Ave, Leandro Barreiro making waves at Benfica | OneFootball

On January 17, 2025, Leandro Barreiro had an unforgettable night, scoring three of the four goals for the Eagles in the home thrashing of Famalicão. The date seems to have left its mark on the Luxembourgish midfielder, who, a year later, found the net again in the league, reaching his third goal of the season – see what the player said after the match.

A regular figure in José Mourinho's starting lineups, the Luxembourg international has been gaining more and more influence in the eleven. His consistent performances and ability to reach the opposition's box fuel his personal ambition to surpass last season’s six goals, the best record of his career. This current season thus presents a clear opportunity to set new highs.

The victory was also marked by the return of defensive solidity. For the first time in 2026, the red and white team finished a match without conceding a goal, breaking a recent negative streak. In total, there have already been 13 clean sheets in 25 matches under the guidance of the Special One, a statistic that boosts confidence in a demanding moment of the season.

With this triumph, Benfica reached 42 points and started the second half of the season with a slightly better record than last year. Even so, the gap to the leader remains a cause for concern. Porto may maintain a significant advantage, underlining that the comeback will require increased consistency and effectiveness in the coming rounds.

This season, Leandro Barreiro — valued at 15 million euros — has found new life with the arrival of José Mourinho. In total, the Luxembourg international has already played 32 official matches wearing Benfica’s Sacred Mantle. In the 1,557 minutes he has spent on the pitch, the midfielder has scored three goals and provided five assists.

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