The first clash was played between Bruno Lage's Benfica and Vítor Bruno's FC Porto, two teams with differences in relation to the recent past.
On Benfica's side, the coach is consolidating the 4x3x3, a different structure and dynamics than its predecessor.
On the FC Porto side, Vítor Bruno uses a structure (4x2x3x1/4x4x2) and dynamics similar to the past in some points, but he is rebuilding the team (almost all new defensive line) and trying to give his personal touch.
Therefore, no major tactical changes were expected for this game, with each player trying to impose their football and style. In the case of FC Porto, Nico this time played in a more advanced area (he has played like this or further back), with Fábio Vieira on the right side.
1. Benfica's strategy involved a lot of suffocating pressure on the opponent's first line
The classic was intense, with high pace and speed, with the teams putting pressure on. A game that started out balanced, but became unbalanced with Benfica's greater dominance and capacity. Note that it was a game with few fouls, which is not always common in these games, and is worth highlighting positively for the quality of the show.
FC Porto had more possession of the ball for a long time, but Benfica ended up being more installed in the offensive midfield, being more dangerous, dominant and creating more difficulties. To achieve this, Benfica's strategy was based on very high pressure, extremely intense and coordinated (asphyxiating in many moments) that allowed it, on the one hand. cancel the opponent's play with the ball and. on the other hand. settle in the offensive midfield, launching constant quick attacks towards Diogo Costa's goal.
To do this, he started with a 4x1x4x1 defensive structure, managing to be very strong in putting pressure on the ball carrier and the first lines of Porto construction.
2. Benfica prepared to take away Diogo Costa's ability to find solutions under pressure
Pavlidis was fundamental in indicating the pressure, jumping on the first central defender with the ball and trying to cut passing lines, which he then had the help of the midfielders, very high in pressing, and the wingers, who were also intense and quick to press so much in the middle. as in the side corridors.
Benfica thus nullified the passing line for the goalkeeper and took away an important weapon from the opponent: Diogo Costa's ability to find solutions behind the pressure. In this sense, it is necessary to highlight the great influence and importance of having a player like Aursness playing as a midfielder.
Di Maria also showed he was in great form and focused defensively, he is often seen as a player who doesn't defend. In short, therefore, a very intense and coordinated work by midfielders, wingers and striker, allowing the team to always be high and win many balls. Block always together and compact.
3. FC Porto insisted on the error of building short and had less coordination in the first line of pressure
FC Porto tried to get out of these constraints with essentially short connections, but had a lot of difficulty, ending up only managing to do so in spaces. He had difficulty placing his midfielders in front of the game and making the ball flow, to get behind the opposing pressure lines. I tried to leave with some movements from Nico to the left corridor and sometimes (a few times) with a midfielder entering the middle of the central defenders.
The team insisted on trying to build from behind, but they lacked the capacity and solutions to be able to connect their game further forward, and to install themselves in this way in the offensive midfield. There were few moments in which he reached the front with quality, ending up scoring a goal in a movement that is typical: Francisco Moura arrived from behind to cross and Samu finished.
When he tried to press from the front, he was less able to nullify Benfica's game. Less coordination of the first pressure line. Even though it didn't always allow Benfica to come from behind comfortably, it also couldn't win high balls and didn't force the opponent to make mistakes. Benfica were therefore better able to find passes behind the pressure, often looking for supporting movements from the attacker in the middle for a more direct connection.
4. Very strong dynamics on Benfica’s right flank
Benfica showed, moreover, great dynamics and intensity with the ball. He was able to make the ball move quickly, with great security and quality. She was very quick to attack FC Porto's goal after winning the ball (as in the second goal) and in addition, in positional attacks, she relied on the strong dynamics of the right flank. Di Maria started from an open position, then started with dynamics with the right back and midfielder.
The team placed more people on this side and created several plays from this corridor (as happened in the second goal). On the left side, there were fewer people, opening space for Carreras' entry (first goal), with Akturkoglu moving inside, close to the attacker, to provide more passing lines and combinations in those areas.
When FC Porto was preparing to make a move for the first time, they conceded the third goal and, still trying to take more risks in the sequence, were unable to change the game's outcome. Benfica was more capable, starting from its pressing strategy to control and dominate the game, then adding speed and quality with the ball, which allowed it to always grow in the game and reach victory naturally.
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