Sudakov was the best player on the pitch at Estádio da Luz on Thursday, contributing a goal and an assist as Benfica beat Lech Poznan 3-1 in matchday four of the UEFA Europa League league stage. Rafa opened the scoring inside six minutes, and despite a brief scare when substitute Bengtsson pulled one back for Poznan in the 72nd minute, substitute Prestianni and then Sudakov himself settled the tie. Marco Silva’s side sit top of the standings on 12 points, four wins from four.
Key Moments
- 6′, Rafa put Benfica ahead early, finishing to give the hosts the ideal start in front of their home support.
- 67′, Prestianni, on for Rafa just five minutes earlier, doubled Benfica’s lead with his first touch of note, assisted by Sudakov.
- 72′, Bengtsson, introduced moments before, made it 2-1 for Lech Poznan and briefly reopened the game.
- 90′, Sudakov put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time, converting a pass from Barrenechea to seal the 3-1 win.
Tactical Breakdown
Benfica set up in a 4-2-3-1 and largely controlled proceedings, finishing with 56% possession, 24 shots and an xG of 2.16 against Poznan’s 0.50. The hosts registered 11 shots on target and 18 inside the box, keeping the Polish side pinned back for long stretches. Rafa’s early goal settled nerves and allowed Benfica to play at a measured pace, cycling through 520 passes and limiting Poznan to just six total efforts.
The triple substitution at 62 minutes reshaped the match. Silva brought on Prestianni, Barrenechea and Aursnes simultaneously, freshening up all three attacking positions. Prestianni took just five minutes to convert, steering home a Sudakov delivery to restore the two-goal cushion that Poznan had threatened. That swap also removed Manuel Silva, who had picked up a yellow card at the hour mark, before Tomás Araújo was replaced by João Palhinha shortly after to reinforce midfield.
Lech Poznan’s issues were structural throughout. Gurgul had a difficult evening at left back, finishing with the lowest rating among Poznan’s starting defenders. The visitors created almost nothing of substance until their own triple substitution at 71 minutes, and even then Bengtsson’s goal owed more to opportunism than any sustained pressure. With an xG of just 0.50 and their goalkeeper Lis required to make eight saves, Poznan offered too little to seriously threaten a Benfica side that was always in control.
Player Ratings
Match Context
Standings
Head To Head
Verdict
Benfica sit top of the UEFA Europa League standings on 12 points from four games, level on points with Bournemouth and Ferencvarosi TC but ahead on goal difference. Lech Poznan, meanwhile, remain 35th with just one point, their campaign in serious difficulty. For Silva’s side, four wins from four is a statement of intent, though the remaining league-stage fixtures will determine whether they can secure direct passage to the round of 16.