João Palhinha’s 2020 header still haunts Benfica as interest persists | OneFootball

Benfica’s interest in João Palhinha endures, yet his match-winning header at the Estádio da Luz in 2020 remains a raw memory for many supporters.

On 15 February 2020, playing for Braga, Palhinha headed the only goal at the Estádio da Luz to seal a 1-0 win in the 21st round. Rui Fonte, his Braga team-mate and a former Benfica forward, later called the victory “uma alegria enorme”, speaking to A Bola.

The strike followed a set piece and beat the home defence, silencing the stadium. That defeat allowed Porto to close on the leaders and became a defining moment in a season still widely debated.

Braga were then coached by Ruben Amorim, who left the club soon after.

With his next move still open, Benfica continue to keep tabs on the 31-year-old. His connection with Marco Silva, who worked with Palhinha at Fulham, is seen as a significant factor if a deal is pursued. For many at the Luz, though, that decisive header still lingers.

Source: Glorioso 1904