Benfica drew 2-2 against SC Braga this Sunday at the Pedreira, in the 16th matchday of the I Liga.
The following are the statements given by José Mourinho, Benfica`s coach, and Fredrik Aursnes, the team`s midfielder, after the contentious 2-2 result against SC Braga.
“I think it is a great victory. We won 3-2. In the first half, Braga was better; we had a short period where we were superior and even scored from a set piece, but Braga was better. In the second half, there was no Braga, only Benfica. The players took responsibility and turned the result around. Winning 3-2 here is a fantastic result, the players deserve it for their effort, but with all respect to Braga, they created the difficulties we expected.”
“We won 3-2. I watched the third goal from the bench with the same doubts about the distance [from the initial foul or offside], but I saw it and reviewed it on the same monitor the VAR would have used, and the goal is clean. We won, a great victory.”
Mourinho clarified his defiant claim in the subsequent press conference:
“I am not entirely happy with myself because I couldn`t achieve the game I expected over 90 minutes. But it was a great second half, and we won 3-2. Obviously, you all know I am speaking with irony, because if I didn`t, I would be severely penalized. Perhaps the club, as an institution, may want to do something or not, and follow the line of being accustomed and accommodating the situation. As a coach, I managed to change things at halftime.”
When asked about SC Braga`s official statement criticizing the match officials, Mourinho continued his sarcastic defense:
“I limit myself to coaching. I don`t make evaluations. Given that we play Braga again soon, I don`t want to elaborate on the tactical nuances. We play them again in a little over a week. But it was a good game, a good opponent, and a good referee. For me, he had a very positive game, but games and points are often decided by these types of decisions, and that’s what happened.”
Midfielder Fredrik Aursnes echoed the sentiment that the team deserved the win, specifically mentioning the controversial decision that cost them the match points.
“No, we weren`t surprised [by Braga’s start]. We knew they like to have the ball; they are a good team and attacked heavily down the flanks. We had difficulties with that, adjusted at halftime, pressed them higher, and were better in the second half. We deserved the three points, but we are disappointed with the 2-2.”
“The first half belonged to Braga, they were the better team. In the second half, it was us. It was a difficult game. I think the 3-2 [disallowed goal for Benfica due to a supposed foul] should have been a goal; it was a very soft touch. I don`t think it was a foul; it should have been validated. I also had a great chance myself; I should have scored, it is disappointing.”
The draw leaves Benfica trailing the league leaders. Benfica now has 36 points, but risks falling 10 points behind if FC Porto defeats Aves SAD, who are currently at the bottom of the table.
For Benfica, Otamendi and Aursnes scored, while Pau Victor and Zalazar scored for the Minhotos.
Braga and Benfica are scheduled to face each other again on January 7, 2026, in the semi-finals of the League Cup.
Mark Thompson
