Trubin's stains decorate a Saint Anthony's Day
With more or less results, which in this case means winning a League Cup and dying on the beach in the League and the Portuguese Cup, Bruno Lage has shown an unknown ability to adapt his speech to the circumstances, a paradigmatic example being the turnaround he revealed after the famous audiogate in the garage of the Estádio da Luz after the defeat to Casa Pia in Rio Maior. From then on, more than ever, the coach has stopped talking about being “one more” and has positioned himself as “one of us”, in words aimed at getting closer to the fans as a kind of link between those on and off the pitch. In the most turbulent moments, Lage surprises with visions that try to disarm reality. Now, in the run-up to the decisive match with Bayern in the Club World Cup, it was no different. And not even the adverse weather conditions with a forecast of over 30º diverted the red coach from his “focus”.
“Conditions? They are the best. We want to play a great game, a game that allows us to move forward. We know it is important for us but we also know that Benfica’s interests do not end tomorrow. As such, the best eleven at the moment will be playing to win. What we cannot afford is a long-term injury at the moment, as we already have two with Manu [Silva] and Bah. We can play a great game and move forward”, said Lage, with renewed confidence in making amends after the defeat in Munich marked mainly by the team’s position against the Bavarians that was too withdrawn.
“We are going to play against a very good team. They have a very interesting dynamic, especially on the wings, with crosses of all shapes and sizes to put the ball in the far post. We have worked on that a lot. But there are things that I cannot give the team: one is height, another is innate, natural aggression. And we all have to be aware that we have to be much more aggressive. I have been more aggressive with the players and this will be a first test for this type of situation. I told you that I didn’t want to talk about the past or the future, only about the Club World Cup, but next season we have to be much more aggressive on and off the pitch. There are things that need to be changed radically and we have worked on that a lot with the players. Some don’t have that aggressiveness. We can’t have a player winning the ball near his area and taking it to our area again. We have to be aggressive. And for that to happen, if in training we have to kick the ball or get into a fight… Whoever steps on us won’t be laughing or singing”, he assured. in an idea that seemed to not go unnoticed in the Kökçü case.
But who wants to step on Benfica? “We have to be more aggressive on and off the pitch. And we’re going to show that aggressiveness”, he simply said, when asked to explain the strong idea he had conveyed. As for the discussion with the midfielder, the matter was closed. “The most important thing is to say that both the player and I are aware that it wasn’t a good moment. As a leader, I’m the first to acknowledge that. He has Turkish blood but I also have Sadino blood, which boils very quickly. The most important thing was that we spoke eye to eye, face to face, and tried to understand how two people who have always had a great relationship had that moment. I understand that he is a grateful person, just as he knows what a player he is and how important he is to me, now and in the future. We’ve talked a lot as a family, the matter was resolved as a family. May we emerge more cohesive and united to do our job”, he explained.
Just as had happened in Turin, before the game against Juventus that followed the defeat against Casa Pia and everything that happened afterwards, all that was left was to find a way to put on a great performance that could surprise, as happened against the Italian team in the Champions League. One thing was for sure: the strategy would be different for the first duel against Bayern in 2024/25. “We need to have the same ability to do defensively as we did well offensively. The strategy will be different, the players who will take to the field will be different, but the ambition has to be the same. We can't wait to see what might happen in the next game, we have to achieve our objectives. It's not about making promises, it's about conviction. I don't want to be reminiscing about the Bayern game, but we didn't go there with only half the work done. The team has to understand the moment and the space we have to take advantage of. We want to be competent”, he assured.
To achieve this, Bruno Lage opted for a starting eleven with a few surprises. Kökçü was on the bench, as was Aktürkoglu, Prestianni remained in the starting line-up, Renato Sanches and Leandro Barreiro formed a midfield without the injured Florentino Luís, with Schjelderup on the left wing of the attack. However, and in a well-played game, the main highlights were others. At the forefront, Benfica's strategy – the coach had an impeccable preparation in terms of how to stop Bayern without neglecting the attacking side, he was close to perfection in the first half and only had more difficulties with the German first line on the pitch. Then, Benfica's attitude – aggressive, intense players, always present. Among them, two individual highlights: Trubin, who defended everything there was to defend, and António Silva, who had one of the best games of the season.
The match began with Bayern completely dominating possession, with Benfica starting the game much more expectedly and without the ball they needed to create danger near the opposing goal. Over time, it became clear that it was a mix of incompetence and also strategy, with the focus on covering up all the space between the lines to empty the Bavarians' attacking play and then looking for moments of transition. When this happened for the first time, the reds won a corner. When they managed to maintain this rhythm in the opposing half, they had the first big chance of the game when Di María took advantage of a second ball after a poor clearance by Leroy Sané to try from half-distance outside the area, which was great saved by Manuel Neuer (9'). It didn't end there, it happened right after: Di María worked on the right, Aursnes crossed across the area and Schjelderup got ahead of Boey to make it 1-0 (13').
What a play and Schjelderup in there ????
???? @FIFACWC | @SLBenfica 1 x 0 @FCBayern @FIFACWC | 14 June – 13 July | Watch all the games for free at https://t.co/fpfuiyzIoG | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld ???? All the games live and exclusive on the DAZN app. pic.twitter.com/qKdLvvsoyR
— DAZN Portugal (@DAZNPortugal) June 24, 2025
In his Club World Cup debut, Schjelderup scores his first ⚽ goal in the competition
⚠ Schjelderup's 5th goal this season: he hadn't scored in over 2 months, when he scored against Tirsense in the Cup pic.twitter.com/aHQPd9OZ1l
— Playmaker (@playmaker_PT) June 24, 2025
Benfica were on top, Bayern were not reacting and things could have been even better for the reds shortly after, with Pavlidis making a run from midfield to beat Upamecano before falling in the box without a foul (17'). The Germans seemed to be chained by that kind of snake song of the opening minutes, trembling in any situation that Benfica managed to create with quick passes or in search of depth. The Eagles had learned their lesson well, as they understood the moments of the game in the best way possible and managed their advantage between phases with lower blocks and others where Pavlidis was asked to gain metres and bring the team forward. That was how the match reached the water break, with Lage asking for more and Kompany showing signs of displeasure with what he was seeing.
You are the Var: Did they award a penalty?
FIFA Club World Cup | 14 June – 13 July | Watch all the games for free at https://t.co/fpfuiyzIoG | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld ???? All the games live and exclusive on the DAZN app. pic.twitter.com/HmZjbpJAAw
— DAZN Portugal (@DAZNPortugal) June 24, 2025
Di Magia ???? @FIFACWC | 14 June – 13 July | See all the free games at https://t.co/fpfuiyzIoG | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld
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— DAZN Portugal (@DAZNPortugal) June 24, 2025
⏱️ 32 minsBenfica 1 – 0 Bayern ?????????
◉ COOLING BREAK, with "eagles" on top in: Shots: 3-1 Actions in the area: 6-3
xG : 0.18 – 0.02
And this one, huh? #FIFACWC #SLBFCB pic.twitter.com/qIAMwzdBhB
— GoalPoint (@_Goalpoint) June 24, 2025
By half-time, some of the Belgian coach's demands were clear. Upamecano pushed the ball forward more in search of numerical advantage, Gnabry and Sané tried to increase the width of the attack, the new face Bischöf showed more interest in the game, and everything remained the same. Di María was the only one to try to stretch the game into the opposition area with a shot that went way over the bar (38') and it was only in the final minutes that Bayern showed any signs of attack, with Leroy Sané shooting over the bar in the area after a fantastic move by Gnabry on the left past Aurnes (44') and Müller failing to shoot against Otamendi's opposition following a cross from the right (45+2'). More Benfica, less Bayern.
37 degrees in Charlotte. @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Watch all the games for free at https://t.co/fpfuiyzIoG | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld ???? All the games live and exclusive on the DAZN app. pic.twitter.com/z1WSPwUI16
— DAZN Portugal (@DAZNPortugal) June 24, 2025
⚽️ HALF TIME ???????????? Benfica 1 – 0 Bayern ????????
◉ "Eagle" flying high, first in the group and sending the mighty Bayern to zero #FIFACWC #SLBFCB pic.twitter.com/iR2kyqG3JV
— GoalPoint (@_Goalpoint) June 24, 2025
In the 14th game played against Bayern, it is the first time that ???? Benfica has the advantage at half-time pic.twitter.com/GFkPk3bfsi
— Playmaker (@playmaker_PT) June 24, 2025
Vincent Kompany was quick to make changes. Bayern's attitude changed at the start of the second half, with much more intensity on the ball and aggressiveness in their reaction to losing the ball, but the placement of Kimmich in midfield, Olise on the right wing and Harry Kane in attack with Müller behind him was like a heavy artillery launch to counter a result that left the Bavarians in second place in the group. The good opportunities, however, were not long in coming. Some were even clear, with Leroy Sané appearing alone in front of Trubin, but the Ukrainian goalkeeper made a great save, who then blocked another dangerous shot from Müller in the area (51'). Then, Lage made a change and Lage almost won immediately: Aktürkoglu, who had just come on with Kökçü, worked well in the area, found space for a shot but Neuer saved it with his foot (57').
Trubin Wall ???? @FIFACWC | 14 June – 13 July | See all the free games at https://t.co/fpfuiyzIoG | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld
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— DAZN Portugal (@DAZNPortugal) June 24, 2025
Great opportunity for the Eagles @FIFACWC | 14 June – 13 July | Watch all the free games at https://t.co/fpfuiyzIoG | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld
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— DAZN Portugal (@DAZNPortugal) June 24, 2025
⏱️ 69 mins???????? Benfica 1 – 0 Bayern ????????
◉ The Bavarians press on, after several changes, and already have 78% possession in the final third. Benfica holds on and, in the other game, it is 1-1 and the match is suspended for the usual reason #FIFACWC #SLBFCB pic.twitter.com/sumdRSOMOQ
— GoalPoint (@_Goalpoint) June 24, 2025
Tah and Laimer also came on for Bayern, with the Germans giving their all to at least draw at a time when Auckland City-Boca Juniors, which was surprisingly tied, was interrupted by the threat of a storm. In two chances that would have been disallowed, Kimmich still scored with Harry Kane getting in front of Trubin in an offside position at the time of the shot (60') and Laimer hit the post in a chance that was later disallowed for offside (66'). The water break came at a good time, in what would also be a test of Benfica's physical strength to withstand the pressure from the German team, with Trubin once again saving the Reds with an instinctive save from Pavlovic's shot in the area (74'). Bajrami came on to close the gap after Renato Sanches was injured, António Silva continued to be an imperious player in central defence and the minutes went by with the score at 1-0 and a giant Trubin in goal, once again stopping Sané alone after a pass from Harry Kane (88′). The victory was assured, history was made.
Goal disallowed for Kimmich because Kane was interfering with Trubin's vision. @FIFACWC | 14 June – 13 July | Watch all the games for free at https://t.co/fpfuiyzIoG | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld ???? All the games live and exclusive on the DAZN app. pic.twitter.com/gkB3A4R4v2
— DAZN Portugal (@DAZNPortugal) June 24, 2025
TRUBIN ???? @FIFACWC | 14 June – 13 July | Watch all the games for free at https://t.co/fpfuiyzIoG | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld ???? All the games live and exclusive on the DAZN app. pic.twitter.com/xwXkfp7yxv
— DAZN Portugal (@DAZNPortugal) June 24, 2025
Renato out with apparent injury ???? @FIFACWC | 14 June – 13 July | Watch all the games for free at https://t.co/fpfuiyzIoG | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld ???? All the games live and exclusive on the DAZN app. pic.twitter.com/14aHhIwQSU
— DAZN Portugal (@DAZNPortugal) June 24, 2025
The pearlTRUBIN's hat-trick of defensive halves ???? @FIFACWC | 14 June – 13 July | Watch all the games for free at https://t.co/fpfuiyzIoG | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld ???? All games live and exclusive on the DAZN app. pic.twitter.com/geVEiqHikP
— DAZN Portugal (@DAZNPortugal) June 24, 2025
- After a first half without any defence against the total eclipse of the German attack (who didn't have a single shot on target in 45 minutes), Trubin naturally won the MVP award of the game with three fabulous saves from shots by Bayern players isolated in the area, almost as if he were a futsal keeper making the saves. The Ukrainian's season was not without its mistakes but, looking at the overall result, the Ukrainian managed to secure many more points than he lost...
- António Silva has not had an easy season, with errors that affected all the players in defence, but in the case of the Portuguese international, they were even more “visible”, making the number 4 look worse in the photo. In this Club World Cup, the young centre-back showed himself at a high level and had his best performance of all against Bayern, imperious in the air and quick in the way he cleared potentially dangerous plays in the box. That hug from Otamendi at the end summed it all up…
- With Benfica's first ever win against Bayern, the Reds not only secured their place in the round of 16 but also secured first place in Group C with seven points, one more than the Germans. Practical significance: the Reds will face Chelsea or Espérance de Tunis in the knockout stage (the Bavarians will face Flamengo) but, if they win, they will "escape" PSG in the quarterfinals, facing the winner of the Brazilian duel between Palmeiras and Botafogo.
- Bayern's squad is so deep that it allows for almost every player to be changed without the team losing its ability to fight for victory in every game. Is it the same now? No, it isn't. And there are four players who make all the difference: Kimmich is one of the best midfielders around, one of those who are incapable of playing badly; Olise and Coman (who never played) are two unbalancing wingers in the way that Gnabry and Leroy Sané, who is leaving for Galatasaray, can't be; Harry Kane is one of the best number 9s in the world. With them on the pitch, everything changed quite noticeably...
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