Ivanovic back smiling at Benfica as impact grows | OneFootball

Franjo Ivanovic’s Benfica fortunes have flipped in recent weeks, from being overlooked by José Mourinho to making telling contributions. The Croatian forward influenced the draw with Porto, then struck in the win at Arouca.

Record writes that Ivanovic’s impact has been hard to ignore, with the number nine directly delivering four points in two weeks, important in the title race.

In the Clássico he featured for 30 minutes and set up Leandro Barreiro’s equaliser. At Arouca he finished the move to make it 2-1, which Vasco Seabra considered a fortuitous moment.

After a fraught spell with chances scarce or non-existent, Ivanovic now has reasons to smile in red. His uptick could serve as a warning for Vangelis Pavlidis, who is on a run of six games without a goal.

This season for Benfica, Ivanovic, valued at 20 million euros, has played 35 official matches, 18 in Liga Portugal Betclic, 11 in the Liga dos Campeões, four in the Taça de Portugal and two in the Taça da Liga. Across 1,169 minutes he has six goals and two assists.

Source: Glorioso 1904