Fenerbahçe hosted Benfica at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League playoff round, which determines which team will advance to the League Phase. The match ended with a disappointing 0-0 draw from the perspective of Fenerbahçe, the home side. Sarı Kanaryalar were not able to impose their...
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup group stage served as a captivating tactical analysis case study, particularly through the performances of Brazilian clubs Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo, and Palmeiras. This report provides a detailed Club World Cup data analysis examining how these teams navigated difficult groups and delivered some of the...
Florentino Luís is a 25-year-old defensive midfielder, currently playing for SL Benfica. He has been one of the most consistent performers in Liga Portugal over the last three seasons. Born in Angola, he moved to the Lisbon region of Portugal with his family at a very young age, where his...
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 marks a historic shift in the tournament’s structure, transforming it from a brief annual competition into a fully-fledged international tournament, modelled on the format of the traditional FIFA World Cup. This expanded edition, set to be hosted for the first time in the United...
Álvaro Carreras is the latest player to be linked with Real Madrid. The 22-year-old Spaniard currently plies his trade with SL Benfica. However, he's reportedly being lined up to join Xabi Alonso at the Bernabeu this summer. The youngster came through the Manchester United Academy and played on loan at...
Benfica have always been known as a selling club, producing great young talents that are then sold for hefty fees, but can this be the year they also make a significant push in the Champions League? Currently, they are second in Liga Portugal with 53 points, three points behind Sporting CP. However, they...
There is considerable agreement among football fans worldwide that the Estadio de Luz may have just hosted one of the UEFA Champions League’s most exciting matches. On a historical night in Lisbon, we saw an incredibly entertaining match between Benfica and Barcelona, creating new history with the first-ever 5-4 scoreline...
After an underwhelming 2024 Copa América campaign, the USMNT made a seismic change to its managerial personnel, hiring one of Europe’s most seasoned managers for his first taste of international football. Mauricio Pochettino has been entrusted to lead the United States out of such a dismal period. All eyes are...
After an underwhelming 2024 Copa América campaign, the USMNT made a seismic change to its managerial personnel, hiring one of Europe’s most seasoned managers for his first taste of international football. Mauricio Pochettino has been entrusted to lead the United States out of such a dismal period. All eyes are...
Matchday two of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League is complete, and it was a whirlwind of action and surprises. Our tactical analysis shares the best formations and plays from Champions League week two, delving into what worked and what didn't. This is part two of a series on the 2024/25...
Benfica faced Atlético Madrid in the second match of the UEFA Champions League’s 'league phase' — and came out victorious. Beating Atlético Madrid 4-0, even though the game took place at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, not only means that Benfica won three points in the standings but also...
In world football, there is only one constant: change. These past few years have seen a drastic change in the way the game is played. If you compare today’s game with the game in the 90s or early 2000s, it is barely recognisable. One position that has seen the most...
Benfica are one of the biggest clubs in Portugal, and there is absolutely no doubt about that, but when the club was looking for a coach in the summer of 2022, the team was going through a rough patch, losing out to FC Porto and rival Sporting for multiple years...
What Is ELO Rating? The 2024/25 UEFA Europa League campaign of 36 clubs presents an intriguing competitive landscape when analyzed based on their current ELO ratings. ELO rating in football is a method for calculating the relative skill levels of teams based on their performance. In this data analysis, ELO...
The 2024/2025 UEFA Champions League season marks the continuation of the tournament's prestige, featuring 36 clubs from various European leagues. This year, the competition structure has evolved, creating more opportunities for teams to progress while adding a layer of complexity to the group stages, as we will see in this...
Benfica Women succeeded in winning the Campeonato Nacional Feminino of Portugal for the fourth time in a row as they were able to overcome the disturbance of Sporting CP and win the battle against them with two points of difference in the end. Moreover, this season represents a unique one...
A number of top European clubs, including Liverpool and Manchester United, are looking for a versatile midfielder, and Benfica’s João Neves fits the bill for many. Coming through Benfica’s youth system, Neves is one of the most exciting young players around the globe at the moment. The below visualisation shows...
The relationship between a #9 and #10 is a fascinating one. While the modern game has largely moved on from a #10 operating as a free player, the connection between a team's highest attacking midfielder and their striker is still pivotal to their success. The role of the #10 may...
Who Is João Neves? International tournament football tends to propel players' profiles, and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was no different. As Argentina went on to claim their third title, one player who caught the attention of five-time Premier League champions Chelsea was midfielder Enzo Fernández. Fernández subsequently secured...
Fans of Portuguese women’s football currently have a lot to celebrate, with the national side sealing a first-ever place at the World Cup finals last week after seeing off Cameroon in a play-off final. However, those who also claim Benfica Feminino as their team of choice will be especially satisfied...
