· 2 min readIn this Benfica vs AGF match, I analyse the key tactical moments, individual performances and turning points of the game.
The Luz welcomed a Benfica side that had no intention of leaving any doubts in this first leg. AGF had reached this stage after an interesting European campaign, but the difference between the teams was simply too obvious. Just two minutes in, Rafa: a clever backheel combination with Bah, a low cross, Pavlidis controls and shoots, the ball stays alive, Rafa keeps going, sees Christiansen make an absurd save, and on the second rebound, he smashes it into the net. 1-0, more through persistence than ease.
Benfica kept pushing, with Prestianni being particularly important in the press. AGF couldn’t play their way out and kept making defensive mistakes. After a recovery from Prestianni, Rafa had another big chance but Christiansen was there again. The Danish goalkeeper was the one keeping his team alive.
However, in the 31st minute, he couldn’t prevent the second. Corner played back to the far post, Barreiro shoots, a defender somehow manages to stop the goal, but the ball comes back to the Benfica midfielder, who this time only has to tap it in. 2-0 and Benfica were having a calm night. Only for AGF to find space on a counterattack in the 36th minute, with Andersen playing it to Jørgensen, who placed his shot into the corner. 2-1, the first big Danish blow.
Benfica still created several chances before half-time, including a huge miss from Tomás Araújo when through on goal and another save from Christiansen from a Pavlidis shot. Deep into stoppage time, VAR called the referee over for a handball inside the box. It’s one of those debatable calls: hand raised, but the distance is short. The penalty was given and Pavlidis made no mistake. 3-1.
The numbers explained everything: 21 shots for Benfica against just two from AGF and 4.00 xG against 0.35. The start was exactly what Benfica needed: intensity, pressure and chances coming one after another. The problem was the drop-off after half-time. With such a huge technical and territorial advantage, it would’ve been perfectly possible to go looking for a fourth and even a fifth, but the team lowered the tempo and allowed AGF to breathe.
The second half was a different story. Benfica had possession after possession, reaching 80%, but lost the ability to turn that dominance into danger. AGF continued defending with a back five and the tempo was very low. There was still a good chance for Schjelderup and then another opportunity late on, after a beautiful cross from the flank and a great save from Christiansen. The AGF goalkeeper had a huge game, the best player on the pitch, which is a good indicator of the amount of work he had, especially before half-time.
Benfica win 3-1 and are clearly in control of the tie, but there’s still a feeling that they could’ve taken a much bigger advantage back to Denmark. For AGF, a two-goal deficit is still a mountain to climb. For Benfica, they just need to avoid turning a tie they control into an unnecessarily complicated story.
Post-match
Benfica win and take an advantage into the second leg, but they need to be better at killing off their chances. They played against a very inspired goalkeeper, but that can’t be an excuse. Qualification is on track.
