Benfica’s hopes of securing a top-two finish in the Primeira Liga suffered a major blow as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Braga at the Estádio da Luz. The result leaves José Mourinho’s side facing an uphill battle for Champions League qualification, with Sporting’s win pushing them down to third place.
The match burst into life after the break. Rafa Silva fired Benfica ahead just 30 seconds into the second half, capitalizing on a Prestianni assist. However, Braga responded immediately, with Paul Victor heading home a cross to level the scores within two minutes.
As the game neared its end, Braga stunned the home crowd when Gorby unleashed a spectacular strike from the edge of the box to make it 2-1. Benfica pushed forward desperately, and deep into stoppage time, they were awarded a penalty after a VAR check for a foul on Silva. Pavlidis stepped up and converted, securing a dramatic equalizer.
Despite the late heroics, the draw leaves Benfica in a precarious position in the league standings, trailing Sporting who won their match. Mourinho will be concerned about his team’s inconsistency as the season reaches its climax.