“Benfica in decline: From the miserable performance to the criticism of Ríos.”

After a disastrous performance, Benfica was eliminated in the semi-finals of the Allianz Cup, suffering a bitter defeat against Sp. Braga by 1-3. With the match taking place at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, a sense of disappointment enveloped the red fans, who witnessed their team deliver a performance below expectations. From the outset, Carlos Vicens’ side showed an assertive attitude and, by half-time, was already leading 2-0. Despite an attempt to react in the second half, with a goal from Pavlidis that reduced the deficit, the Braga team remained composed and secured victory with a third goal in the final moments, leaving Benfica in a state of shock.

The defeat was not only a heavy blow in terms of competition, but also brought bad news regarding the injury to captain Nicolás Otamendi, who will be absent from the classic against FC Porto due to a red card received during the match. A night to forget for the reds, but a true reason for celebration for Sp. Braga, who did not hesitate to seize the opportunity.

The feeling of frustration among the fans was palpable, and Record decided to hear some familiar voices expressing their outrage. Former player Álvaro Magalhães did not hold back in his criticism: “Benfica had an unrecognizable first half, improved a lot in the second. The same face as in the league. They improved with the changes, but it was too late. It has been a two-faced Benfica. They give 45 minutes to the opponent.”

For his part, former director Braz Frade did not hesitate to describe the performance as “miserable,” pointing out recurring errors in the team’s formation: “Some mistakes are being insisted upon, like Sudakov on the left wing. He contributes nothing. Tomás Araújo is out of position. Ríos only runs occasionally. It’s difficult like this. Benfica looked like an amateur team.”

Financial analyst Camilo Lourenço also criticized the team’s approach: “A half-time lead over Sp. Braga, like at the Pedreira. Childish errors in midfield and defense. A night to forget for Tomás Araújo, Sudakov, and Dahl, and a poorly structured team.”

The early elimination from the Allianz Cup leaves Benfica at a crossroads, with pressure mounting on the coach and the team, who urgently need to find solutions to prevent this situation from happening again. With a classic match on the horizon, the Reds will have to reinvent themselves if they want to regain the confidence of their fans and compete for the titles that are expected of them. The question that arises is: can Benfica turn things around before it’s too late?