Benfica concluded 2025 with a disappointing 2-2 draw against SC Braga at the Pedreira Stadium in the 16th matchday of the Primeira Liga. The result brings the Encarnados` tally to 36 points, but puts them at risk of finishing the year 10 points adrift of league leaders FC Porto, should the Dragons defeat bottom-placed Aves SAD.
Nicolás Otamendi and Fredrik Aursnes scored for Benfica, while Pau Victor and Rodrigo Zalazar registered goals for the Minhotos (SC Braga).
Carlos Vicens` team (Braga) failed to capitalize fully on Gil Vicente`s draw, remaining in 5th place with 26 points, just one point behind the Gilistas.
It took Benfica 27 minutes to register their first offensive action at Pedreira, during a phase where SC Braga largely controlled the flow of the game, although without creating significant clear-cut chances. The first sign of life from the visitors was a long-range shot by Richard Rios.
Just three minutes later, the dynamic shifted. From a lateral free-kick, Nicolás Otamendi jumped unmarked to head the ball into the back of the net. Benfica led 1-0 despite having shown very little up to that point.
Prior to Benfica`s goal, Braga had already sought a penalty following an incident between João Moutinho and Aursnes inside the box, and had a goal from Ricardo Horta disallowed after referee João Gonçalves ruled that Horta had fouled Otamendi.
Braga`s comeback arrived swiftly before halftime. In the 35th minute, Gonçalves initially disallowed Braga`s equalizer (scored by Pau Victor), but VAR intervention led to a penalty being awarded instead, as Dorgeles’ header had struck Samuel Dahl’s arm (which was not in a natural position). Rodrigo Zalazar converted the penalty in the 38th minute for the 1-1 equalizer.
Benfica’s defense seemed to be in a “late Santa Claus mode,” offering another gift just before the whistle. In added time (45+1), Richard Rios slipped while trying to play the ball out of the area, losing possession to Pau Victor. Victor proceeded to skip past Tomás Araújo and Otamendi before firing a cross-shot past the goalkeeper for the 2-1 lead.
Benfica returned to the field a completely different side for the second half, maintaining possession better, while Braga appeared disorganized in their marking structure.
The equalizer came in the 53rd minute via a lightning-fast counter-attack. After a challenge in Benfica’s midfield (with Ricardo Horta claiming a foul), the ball found its way to Rios, then Pavlidis, who set up Aursnes. The Norwegian unleashed a powerful volley from outside the box, securing a magnificent goal for the 2-2 parity.
Benfica subsequently generated the most danger. In the 56th minute, Tomás Araújo drove the ball forward and struck a powerful shot that Hornicek saved for a corner. The Braga goalkeeper was again forced into a difficult save from Dahl in the 71st minute. Pavlidis did manage to score, but his goal was correctly disallowed for offside in the 66th minute.
The match concluded chaotically. In injury time, Ricardo Horta was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Prestianni, forcing the hosts to defend the draw with ten men.
Benfica finishes 2025 with 36 points, potentially trailing FC Porto by a significant margin. The two teams will meet again shortly in the League Cup semi-finals on January 7, 2026.
Mark Thompson
