Benfica won 2-3 away from home, but the ratings story was built around individual performances. Vangelis Pavlidis led Benfica with an 8.16, while Estrela still had a few players who could point to a decent night in defeat.

Benfica's top mark

Pavlidis was the main reason Benfica's attack kept finding space between Estrela's lines, and his score of 8.16 was the highest on the night. He added a goal and two key passes from centre-forward, which put him clear at the top of the ratings.

That support for the result did not come from only him. Benfica also sit second in Primeira Liga on 25 points from 10 games, which fits the idea of a side with enough quality to make pressure count when the match opens up.

Estrela's best performers

The best Estrela story belongs to L. Antonetti. He missed a point-blank header as early as the 9th minute, then later scored Estrela's equaliser, a sequence that will be read by some as redemption and by others simply as a strong attacking outing. His 7.24 rating backs up the latter reading, and he has 5 goals in 11 appearances this season.

Leo Linck also made sure Estrela stayed in the contest. He produced a big block in the 29th minute, another save in the 85th minute, and a major stop in the 90+4th minute against Dodi Lukebakio. L. Zvonarek finished a team move for Estrela's 1-1 and later had the winning goal in the 48th minute on the score sheet for his side, ending with a 7.08 rating.

A Bola's verdict matched the eye test on those names, saying: "Despite the defeat, many people playing well: Linck tried to connect the team to the equaliser, Zvonarek and Stoica stood out in attack". I. Stoica was also among Estrela's brighter attackers, even if the night still ended in a 2-3 loss.

Benfica's margin of victory was slim, but the ratings gave a clearer split than the scoreline alone. Pavlidis finished top, Antonetti and Zvonarek stood out for Estrela, and Linck did enough in goal to keep the game alive into stoppage time.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →