Benfica and FC Porto Share Thrilling Draw in National Championship Clash
Benfica and FC Porto battled to a 29-29 draw in a highly contested match on Saturday, March 7, 2026, as part of the 22nd round of the first phase of the Portuguese National Handball Championship. The dramatic equalizer came in the final seconds, courtesy of Alejandro Barbeito.
Early Porto Dominance
The match began with FC Porto demonstrating greater offensive efficiency. Within the first five minutes, they established a 2-4 lead, capitalizing on their opportunities and minimizing errors. This advantage extended to 3-7 by the eight-and-a-half-minute mark, with Gunnarsson leading the charge with four goals.
Benfica Adjusts and Fights Back
Despite early exclusions for Ricardo Brandão and Salinas, Benfica struggled to fully capitalize. However, they gradually began to balance the game, adjusting their defense to a more aggressive 5×1 formation. This shift proved effective, narrowing the gap to 9-10 by the 18th minute.
Gustavo Capdeville, Benfica’s goalkeeper, played a crucial role in keeping his team within reach with several key saves. At halftime, FC Porto held a narrow 14-15 lead.
Second-Half Intensity and a Dramatic Finish
Benfica emerged with renewed determination in the second half, taking the lead for the first time at 16-15 in the 32nd minute. A successful 7-meter throw extended their advantage to 20-18. Gustavo Capdeville and Christopher Hedberg continued to perform well, pushing the score to 21-18.
The game remained intensely competitive, with both teams trading goals. With the score tied at 26-26 at the 53rd minute, FC Porto briefly regained the lead at 26-28 with five minutes remaining.
Benfica responded, leveling the score at 28-28 with two and a half minutes left. After a timeout called by Benfica coach Jota González with 12 seconds remaining, a strong double-team forced a turnover, allowing Capdeville to launch a quick pass to Alejandro Barbeito, who scored the tying goal.
League Standings and Future Outlook
With this result, Benfica concludes the first phase of the National Championship with 16 wins and 3 draws, totaling 57 points. They await the completion of FC Porto’s postponed matches to determine whether they will start the second phase of the competition in second or third place.
The top four teams will advance to compete for the national title, carrying half of their points from the first phase into the second.
Coach and Player Reactions
Jota González (Benfica coach): “We complicated the game at the beginning. We lost a lot of balls and they scored on the counter-attack. We managed to get the draw in the last second. We will go into the next phase with 1 point less than FC Porto. The team gave their all, it’s a shame about the many turnovers on offense. We tried to pressure at the complete to force them to lose the ball.”
Alejandro Barbeito (Benfica central player): “It was in the last opportunity. There wasn’t time to think, there were 4 or 5 seconds left. There’s no time to think, just go to the goal, and then my teammates said they were alone, but I shot the ball. We are very happy to have achieved the draw. It was a very intense game, after the trip from the European competition game. But high competition is like that. You have to know how to play when you only have 1 or 2 days to train.”
Match Details
- Date: March 7, 2026
- Location: Pavilion No. 2 da Luz
- Final Score: Benfica 29 – 29 FC Porto
Benfica Starting Lineup
Gustavo Capdeville, Stiven Valencia, Reinier Taboada, Mikita Vailupau, Miguel Sánchez, Alejandro Barbeito, and Alexis Borges.
FC Porto Starting Lineup
Abrahamsson, José Luís Ferreira, Ricardo Brandão, Pedro Oliveira, Gunnarsson, Rui Silva, and Marcus Dahlin.
FAQ
Q: Who scored the equalizer for Benfica?
A: Alejandro Barbeito scored the tying goal in the final seconds of the match.
Q: What is the significance of this draw for Benfica?
A: Benfica finishes the first phase with 57 points and will await the results of FC Porto’s postponed matches to determine their starting position in the second phase.
Q: Who was the standout player for Benfica?
A: Gustavo Capdeville, Benfica’s goalkeeper, was instrumental with key saves throughout the game.
Did you know? Alejandro Barbeito signed a contract with Benfica valid until 2028.
Pro Tip: Adjusting defensive strategies mid-game, as Benfica did with their 5×1 formation, can be a game-changer in handball.
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