Benfica Held To Scoreless Draw By Tondela In Lively Liga Portugal Clash

The Estádio João Cardoso in Tondela was the stage for a fiercely contested Liga Portugal clash as Benfica, fresh off a remarkable Champions League victory over Real Madrid, faced off against relegation-threatened Tondela in the 20th round of the competition. Despite the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs—Benfica sitting comfortably in third place with 45 points and Tondela languishing in 17th with just 12—the match unfolded with all the unpredictability and tension that football fans crave.

Benfica entered the fixture riding high after a week that saw them eliminate Real Madrid from the Champions League in dramatic fashion. Goals from Schjelderup (2), Pavlidis, and even goalkeeper Trubin had propelled the Lisbon giants into the next phase, sparking celebrations across their fanbase. Manager José Mourinho, ever the pragmatist, cautioned that the euphoria had to be set aside quickly. "The following day was a day off. The players hadn't had a day off for a long time, and I think it was important to put that game behind us, so to speak," Mourinho explained before the Tondela match. He emphasized the challenge of a quick turnaround, especially with difficult weather and pitch conditions expected in Tondela, adding, "We have to go. I would like to take this opportunity, since I mentioned difficult weather conditions to play in... Obviously, our solidarity is with those whose weather conditions don't prevent them from playing well, but prevent them from living in minimum conditions, and we send our love to all those people."

For Tondela, the match represented another chance to claw their way out of the relegation zone. The home side, managed by Cristiano Bacci, had suffered three consecutive defeats coming into this contest: a 1-0 loss at Moreirense, a narrow home defeat to Braga, and a heavy 3-0 setback at Famalicão. Their struggles were compounded by injuries to key players Ivan Cavaleiro and Rony Lopes, forcing Bacci to shuffle his lineup yet again.

As the teams took the pitch, both managers opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation. Benfica’s starting eleven featured Trubin in goal; Banjaqui, António Silva, Otamendi, and Dahl in defense; Aursnes and Barreiro anchoring the midfield; with Prestianni, Sudakov, Schjelderup, and Pavlidis forming a dynamic attacking quartet. Tondela lined up with Fontes between the posts; Bebeto, Marques, Medina, and Maviram at the back; Sithole and Hodge in midfield; and Rodrigo Conceição, Cícero, Aiko, and Siebatcheu leading the line.

The match kicked off with Tondela pressing high and testing Benfica’s defensive resolve. Early on, Jordan Siebatcheu and Hodge fired warning shots, but neither could find the target. Benfica, for their part, attempted to assert control through midfielders Aursnes and Barreiro, with Schjelderup and Prestianni showing their trademark energy and creativity up front. In the 10th minute, Prestianni received a sharp pass from Schjelderup and unleashed a fierce drive, only for Fontes to parry the ball away for a corner. Moments later, Sudakov’s delivery found Otamendi, but his header was blocked by the resolute Tondela defense.

The first half was a showcase of end-to-end football, with both goalkeepers called into action. Tondela’s Siebatcheu came closest to breaking the deadlock, rattling the left post with a powerful shot from inside the box at the 25-minute mark. On the rebound, Aiko’s long-range effort flew just wide, leaving the home fans groaning in frustration. Benfica responded with a flurry of attacks: Banjaqui’s thunderous shot from distance forced another smart save from Fontes, while Pavlidis and Aursnes both saw efforts denied by the Tondela keeper. The most dramatic moment came when referee Luís Godinho pointed to the spot for a Benfica penalty, only to reverse his decision after a VAR review—much to the relief of the home side.

The goalless first half belied the quality and intensity of the contest. As VAVEL’s live commentary noted, "In a very balanced first half, both teams created dangerous attacks, had chances, and forced the goalkeepers to make saves, but without breaking the deadlock, ending the first half 0-0 in the score so far!"

The second half saw both teams make tactical adjustments. Benfica introduced Bruma and Anísio Cabral for Sudakov and Prestianni, aiming to inject fresh legs and new ideas into the attack. Tondela, meanwhile, replaced Siebatcheu with João Afonso and made further changes as Maviram and Joe Hodge exited due to injury and tactical considerations. The yellow cards began to pile up, with Rodrigo Conceição, Lucas Canizares, Schjelderup, Emmanuel Maviram, and Sithole all going into the referee’s book for a series of robust challenges.

Despite the substitutions and mounting pressure from Benfica, Tondela’s defense—marshaled by Marques and Medina—stood firm. Fontes continued his heroics, denying Bruma and Pavlidis in quick succession, while at the other end, Trubin was alert to snuff out a late surge from Rodrigo Conceição. The final whistle blew with the score locked at 0-0, a result that reflected both teams’ determination and the fine margins that define top-flight football.

For Benfica, the draw was a missed opportunity to close the gap on league leaders Porto and Sporting, but it did extend their unbeaten run in domestic competition. Mourinho’s side will rue their missed chances but can take heart from the attacking verve shown by Schjelderup and Prestianni, whose performances continue to light up the season. Tondela, meanwhile, will see the point as vital in their battle against relegation, especially after three straight defeats.

As the dust settles, both clubs will look ahead to their next fixtures with renewed determination. Benfica’s blend of youth and experience remains a threat to any opponent, while Tondela’s fighting spirit gives them hope in their quest for survival. The drama of Liga Portugal rolls on, with every matchday serving up new twists and turns in this captivating campaign.