Benfica beat Moreirense 4-0 as Schjelderup and Prestianni shine in rescheduled league fixture
Benfica claimed their sixth consecutive victory across all competitions with a 4-0 win at Moreirense, driven by goals from Pavlidis, Schjelderup, Prestianni, and Aursnes.
Four-goal victory in Moreira de Cónegos
Benfica recorded a 4-0 away victory against Moreirense at the Estádio Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas on Wednesday, 9 September 2026. The match was a rescheduled fixture from the third round of Portugal's Primeira Liga. Striker Vangelis Pavlidis broke the deadlock by converting a penalty kick during first-half stoppage time, concluding an opening forty-five minutes in which the visitors controlled territory and pinned Moreirense inside their own half. The triumph marked Benfica's sixth consecutive win across all competitions, extending a winning run spanning domestic league matches and the UEFA Europa League. In those six games, which included matches against Casa Pia, Aarhus, Estoril, and Marítimo, Benfica scored 22 goals while conceding three.
- Goals scored
- 22 goals
- Goals conceded
- 3 goals
Tactical reshuffle and attacking partnership
Manager Marco Silva restructured Benfica's attacking configuration for the match in Moreira de Cónegos, selecting Norwegian winger Andreas Schjelderup on the left wing in place of Heorhiy Sudakov. The tactical change also shifted Argentine attacker Gianluca Prestianni into a central role operating behind Pavlidis. The pairing created immediate offensive output after the interval, as Schjelderup doubled the lead early in the second half from a Prestianni assist before Prestianni scored an unassisted third goal. Silva also highlighted the performance of left-sided defender Samuel Dahl in supporting attacks, comparing the understanding between Schjelderup and Prestianni to the established right-side tandem of Rafa and Alexander Bah.
It helps, the game is collective, but we live off connections, they do not have to be best friends, but the connection off the pitch also helps.
- Vangelis Pavlidis scores a penalty kick to give Benfica a 1-0 lead
- Andreas Schjelderup scores from a Gianluca Prestianni assist
- Gianluca Prestianni scores an unassisted goal
- Fredrik Aursnes scores from an Andreas Schjelderup assist
Squad rotation and defensive discipline
With Benfica playing fixtures every three days across domestic and continental competitions, Silva utilized the second-half lead to rotate his squad and distribute playing time. Team captain Fredrik Aursnes made his first league appearance of the season as a substitute, concluding the scoring with Benfica's fourth goal after receiving a pass from Schjelderup. Striker Jhon Durán also came on as a substitute to build match fitness. Beyond the goal tally, Silva emphasized the defensive work rate shown by his front line, pointing to moments where Pavlidis and Rafa tracked back into their own defensive half to regain possession during defensive transitions.
When I see players like Rafa and Pavlidis winning balls back in defensive transition, it makes me proud.
Territorial dominance and preparation for Sunday
Benfica restricted Moreirense to virtually no scoring opportunities throughout the contest, with Silva noting only a single dangerous free kick behind his defensive line across the entire ninety minutes. The Lisbon club played the first half largely within a 50-meter operating area in Moreirense's half, creating regular crossing opportunities from both flanks. At the half-time break, Silva instructed his squad to maintain the exact same attacking tempo in the second half, which yielded the two quick goals that put the game out of reach. Following the match, the team now begins recovery and tactical preparation for their next Primeira Liga fixture on Sunday, 13 September 2026.
