Benfica Edges Alverca 1-0 in Tense I Liga Encounter
RTP reported that Benfica secured a 1-0 victory over Alverca at Estádio da Luz on 02 de Novembro de 2026, with Pavlidis scoring a penalty in the 51st minute to move five points behind league leader FC Porto. The win kept Benfica in second place with 25 points, while Alverca remained 10th with 11 points. The match marked Alverca’s second loss, despite their defensive resilience.
VAR Controversy Halts Early Momentum
The first half saw Alverca nearly open the scoring when Yaya Bojang’s goal was disallowed by VAR for an offside by five centimeters, according to RTP. Despite controlling possession (69% at halftime), Benfica struggled to create clear chances, with a ‘slow and predictable’ performance. Alverca’s organized defense frustrated the hosts, limiting Benfica to rare opportunities like Bah’s early shot saved by Matheus Mendes.
Pavlidis’ Penalty Seals Narrow Win
Benfica’s breakthrough came after Claudio Echeverri’s introduction at halftime. Echeverri was pushed in the box, leading to a penalty, which Pavlidis converted. The penalty was Pavlidis’ 10th league goal of the season, extending his lead as the top scorer. The Argentine duo of Prestianni and Echeverri created the play that led to the penalty, with Prestianni’s run setting up Echeverri’s challenge by Sergi. The goal came after Benfica’s first-half possession dominance yielded only rare chances, including a shot from Lukébakio that was saved.
Alverca Manager Praises Team’s Resilience
Sérgio Ferreira, Alverca’s manager, emphasized his team’s determination after the loss: “O jogo foi de encontro ao que esperávamos. O Benfica entrou bem, com algum demérito nosso. Nunca deixámos de procurar chegar à frente, mas não era fácil.” He praised the squad’s effort, stating, “Queremos ser competitivos, seja em que campo for e contra que adversário for.” Despite the defeat, Ferreira highlighted the team’s ability to “jogar o jogo todo” against a strong opponent.
Benfica’s Struggles Under the Spotlight
Benfica’s ‘lack of freshness’ in attack, noting the team’s 16 goals in five previous games contrasted with this ‘uninspiring’ display. The article linked the sluggish performance to a “cold autumn,” with the team narrowly avoiding a potential upset. The Alverca defense, led by Sergi Gómez and Matheus Mendes, limited Benfica’s attacking opportunities, including those involving Pavlidis and Schjelderup. Despite their possession advantage, the hosts struggled to break down a compact Alverca side.
⚽ GOLOPavlidis 51'I Liga (#10) | Benfica (1)-0 Alverca#LigaPortugalBetclic #VSPORTSLPBETCLIC #EPOCA2627 #JORNADA10 #SLBALV #SLB #ALVTodos os vídeos 👉 https://t.co/5go4Qgb14j pic.twitter.com/HPruHHqJLr
Benfica's Lead Maintained After VAR Review
Why does this win matter for Benfica?
Benfica maintained a five-point gap behind FC Porto, the league leader, after the victory. The win preserved their position in second place with 25 points.
What was the VAR incident about?
Alverca’s Yaya Bojang scored in the 25th minute, but the goal was disallowed by VAR for an offside by five centimeters, as reported by RTP.
Pavlidis Reaches 10th League Goal of Season
Pavlidis’ penalty was his 10th league goal of the season, making him the top scorer in the I Liga.
Lineups
Benfica (4-2-3-1): Samuel Soares; Bah, Tomás Araújo, Lenglet, Dahl; Aursnes, João Palhinha; Lukébakio, Prestianni, Schjelderup; Pavlidis.
Alverca (4-3-3): Matheus Mendes; Bojang, Sergi Gómez, Isaac James; Touaizi, Ian Luccas, Davy Gui; Chiquinho, Dawda, Figueiredo. Substitutes for Benfica included Echeverri, who entered at halftime, and Rafa, while Alverca made tactical changes to counter Benfica’s pressure.
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