António Silva sets Liga Portugal Betclic record in Benfica v Rio Ave | OneFootball

António Silva was the only Portuguese starter in Benfica – Rio Ave. Among the 22 players fielded by José Mourinho and Sotiris Sylaidopoulos, the Eagles' central defender was the only Portuguese national present in the match related to the first delayed round of the Liga Portugal Betclic.

This fact sets a new record in the current edition of the National Championship, as it was the match with the most foreigners in the starting lineups of a Liga Portugal Betclic game. In the second half, only Henrique Araújo, a forward for Benfica, joined António Silva as a Portuguese national.

"In the first half, we lacked intensity, reaching the final third. In the second, we did well, created opportunities. Rio Ave didn't want to play. We scored, they equalized in a transition, I think everything is happening to us at this stage," said António Silva, at the end of Benfica – Rio Ave, in statements to BTV.

However, despite the 1-1 draw, António Silva expressed confidence in Benfica's future and that victories will come: “We have to keep working, and the results will come. The good thing about football is that we have a game on Friday to play, to return to victories, which is what the fans want."

This season, wearing Benfica's jersey, António Silva – valued at 32 million euros – played 11 matches: five in the Champions League, five in the Liga Portugal Betclic, and one in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira. In the 912 minutes he was on the pitch, the central defender showed a good level of performance.

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