Published November 5, 2026 · Taken Social Editorial
LISBON — Benfica maintained its perfect Europa League start with a 3–1 win over Lech Poznań on Thursday, using goals from Rafa Silva, Gianluca Prestianni and Georgiy Sudakov to secure a fourth consecutive league-phase victory.
The final goal proved important to the shape of the evening. Lech had reduced the deficit to 2–1 through Leo Bengtsson in the 72nd minute, keeping the result open until Sudakov scored in the 90th. Benfica finished with a two-goal margin rather than having to protect a single-goal lead through the closing seconds.
RTP’s match report confirmed the result and the scoring sequence. Benfica reached 12 points, level on points with Bournemouth and Ferencváros, while Lech remained on one point after four matches.
For coach Marco Silva, the result extends a strong European campaign. Four wins have created a useful platform, although the league phase is only halfway complete and the final order will depend on the remaining fixtures.
Rafa’s early goal sets the tone
Rafa opened the scoring in the sixth minute, giving Benfica the advantage almost immediately. That start allowed the hosts to play with a lead while Lech sought a way back into the contest.
The second goal arrived after a series of substitutions. The completed live commentary records Prestianni entering in the 62nd minute and scoring five minutes later. His contribution gave Benfica a cushion that became especially relevant when the visitors responded.
Bengtsson, himself introduced shortly before his goal, reduced the deficit. Lech’s reply meant the match could not yet be treated as settled, even with Benfica having supplied the first two goals. One further visiting finish would have changed the outcome materially.
Sudakov instead supplied Benfica’s answer in the final minute of normal time. The third goal restored the two-goal difference and completed a scoreline that reflects both Benfica’s attacking production and Lech’s brief route back into the game.
Twelve points, with the qualification race still developing
Benfica’s position is clearly stronger than Lech’s, but the two teams’ targets remain tied to a shared table rather than a four-club group. Each match contributes to a ranking that will determine the route into the knockout rounds or elimination. The official UEFA standings are the reference as all fourth-round results are incorporated.
The advantage of a perfect opening record is practical. Benfica has accumulated points before the final stretch, giving it more scope to pursue a favorable finishing position. That does not remove the need to take the remaining fixtures seriously or establish that a particular qualification place has already been secured.
For Lech, the position is more demanding. One point from four games leaves fewer opportunities to recover and increases the importance of the next result. Bengtsson’s goal demonstrated a capacity to respond within the match, but it did not produce a point to improve the broader campaign.
Benfica’s substitutions also mattered. Prestianni added a goal soon after arriving, while the team ultimately found a third finish after Lech had narrowed the gap. Those contributions explain why an early lead became a full return of points rather than a missed opportunity.
The result belongs alongside Thursday’s victories for Bournemouth and Ferencváros as evidence of the pace being set in the early qualification race. Benfica has won all four of its assignments. The next task is to turn that opening consistency into a strong final position over the remaining four matches.
Header photograph: Estádio da Luz in Lisbon. Archival venue photograph; not the November 2026 match. Steve Gardner, via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 2.0.
