Benfica B edged Leixões 1-0 in the opening round of the Portuguese League 2 season on Sunday, with F. Bernardes de Freitas Neto's sixth-minute strike proving decisive in a match where the hosts dominated neither possession nor territory. To be fair, the result tells only part of the story — Leixões controlled the ball for 61 per cent of the game and registered nine shots on target, yet could not find the net against a Benfica side that barely scratched the surface.
The goal came early, when Bernardes de Freitas Neto finished a brief spell of pressure before the visitors could settle. By then, Leixões had already tasted possession but failed to turn it into meaningful chances. The hosts switched off at a set piece on several occasions, and Leixões took eight corners to Benfica's single attempt, but the away end never stopped their rhythm in the final third.
Statistics reveal the disconnect: Leixões recorded 85 attacks compared to 59 for Benfica, with shots accuracy sitting at 0.36 against a mere 0.18 for the home side. Yet one goal from two attempts on target was enough. The heat took the sting out of what might have been a frustrating afternoon for the visitors, who dominated possession but couldn't break down a disciplined defensive shape.
Benfica B made six changes to their starting lineup, bringing on Gabriel Indio on the hour mark and substituting N. Felix after his yellow card at 15 minutes. The coaches got their substitutions spot on, shifting momentum when needed. Leixões responded with changes of their own, bringing on R. Barbosa and S. Agra in an attempt to find an equaliser, but the hosts held their nerve until the final whistle.
The result moves Benfica B to seven points from five games, while Leixões sit on nine points in sixth place. Both sides have two defeats in their first five matches, though Benfica's recent form — four wins and a draw in their last five outings across all competitions — suggests they may have found their footing. The away end never stopped, but without a goal to show for it.