The fast thinking did not come to cure the open wound (the chronicle of Casa Pia-Benfica)-Observer

He was not a defeated Benfica, but he was a injured Benfica. The defeat against Barcelona midweek in the Champions League was much more than a defeat: the incarnates were winning two goals on two distinct occasions, allowed the draw and then the turnaround in discounts, falling to a complex zone of the classification. More than a defeat, Benfica suffered a hard blow.

This Saturday, however, the page changed. The incarnates returned to the first league to visit Casa Pia, in Rio Maior, and knew that the margin of error is more than reduced – Given the proximity between Sporting, Benfica and FC Porto at the top of the table. Bruno Lage, however, assured that the trick was that the players would remain “together”, an idea that had already made it clear after the disappointment against the Catalans.

“We have to come in with determination, safe, with a good entry. As we did in the game against Barcelona. We have to value what we did, raise our heads and look at the next game with determination. We always prepare and only the next game. The coach is always the message, it is in this sense that we have to be focused. We cannot play two games at the same time. My head is working on one or two games. Now I know that I have a game with Casa Pia, I gave all the information to the players, as they argue, as they attack… this has to be the focus and the normal of these players, is to be concentrated in this regard. The championship is very important and these three points are precious, ”explained the incarnate coach.

In this context, Bruno Lage made four changes compared to the team that had faced Barcelona and He exchanged Tomás Araújo for Alexander Bah on the right and Fredrik Aursnes for Leandro Barreiro in midfield, In addition to ensuring the return of Di María to ownership, over Aktürkoğlu, and enhance Arthur Cabral’s ownership, with Pavlidis starting at the bank. Manu Silva, Middle Ex-V. Guimarães who arrived this week in light, was also alternate. On the other hand, in a house pia that came from six journeys without losing, João Pereira had Cassiano as an offensive reference, supported by Livolant and Nuno Moreira.

Benfica started better, with Casa Pia to present themselves in a format very similar to what appeared a few months ago in Alvalade: a line of five to defend, with four elements ahead, In a clear attempt to put a very low block that prevented the opponent from reaching the goal and opening the door to rapid transitions and depth explorations. The incarnates, however, did not take long to cause danger and open the marker.

Arthur Cabral had the first relevant situation, with a shot from outside the area that Sequeira defended next to the lawn (3 ′), and scared shortly after a bid in which he shot the goalkeeper figure following a good understanding between Bah and Di María on the right (8 ′). Still inside the initial time room, however, the goal came: Tchamba missed Leandro Barreiro in the area of ​​Casa Pia and Di María, in the conversion of the penalty, put Benfica to win and scored the 14th goal of the season (14 ′).

The incarnates kept their feet of the accelerator after they reached the goal, without the Casa Pia being able to react and with Bruno Lage’s team to extend high levels of ball possession and the total control of occurrences. Aktürkoğlu could have increased the advantage, with a shot from outside the area that took paint from the Sequeira’s goal (25 ′), but it all started to change after half hours. Benfica hung up, allowed the opponent’s clear growth And Casa Pia did not need a long time in the last third to draw, with Cassiano to take advantage of a Crasso error of António Silva to hit Trubin (32 ′).

Benfica also trembled in the last minutes of the first part, as António Nobre signaled Otamendi’s penalty on Nuno Moreira but reversed the decision after analyzing VAR images, And the game was really tied for the break. At the end of the first half, after Sequeira avoid Kökçü’s goal with a great defense (45+4 ′), Casa Pia was taking advantage of the clear defensive weaknesses of the incarnated to discuss the result in Rio Maior.

None of the coaches made changes to the break and the second part began as the first was over, more discussed and debated in the midfield zone and with many divided duels and balls. Casa Pia even had the first danger situations of the second half, With Larrazabal seeing António Silva intercepted a shot practically on top of the goal line and, in the recharge, failing the target (56 ′), and Benfica could not recover control of the dynamics he had after opening the scorer.

At the time of play, without the incarnates being able to put ice in the match, Casa Pia stamped the turnaround. Larrazabal unbalanced on the right, crossed late and Nuno Moreira, across the area, shot and capitalized the defensive bewilder that Benfica could not mask (60 ′). João Pereira was the first to move, exchanging Cassiano for Max Svensson, and Bruno Lage also did not take long to launch Pavlidis and Schjelderup, keeping Arthur Cabral on the pitch and adapting the team to a species of 4x4x2 that was actually a 4x2x4.

Arthur Cabral could have tied with a header next door (67 ′), but Casa Pia continued to bet simply in the quick transition and Livolant was also very close to increasing the advantage with an unmold (70 ′). Bruno Lage has exhausted the substitutions already within the last ten minutes, Launching Amouni, Manu Silva and Aursnes at once, but the incarnates got no more than kicks away from the target and inconsequential moves and even conceded the third goal, by Livolant and in a new counterattack, in discounts (90+4 ′) .

Benfica lost with Casa Pia in Rio Maior and added the second consecutive defeat in a game where they fell abruptly after suffering the draw and never managed to react to the setbacks in the second half. Bruno Lage’s team now risks losing second place in the first league, In case of victory of FC Porto with Santa Clara, and may also distance themselves from Sporting’s leadership if the lions defeat the national.