Benfica 2:0 Villarreal — Match Report

Gary RedknappFootball AnalystMATCH REPORT

Rafa Silva scored once and set the tone as Benfica beat Villarreal 2-0 in a Club Friendly Game, the Portuguese midfielder's all-round display driving a comfortable win with no next fixture on the immediate horizon.

The match was scoreless at half-time before Benfica broke through in the 52nd minute when Vangelis Pavlidis slipped a pass to Rafa Silva, who finished calmly. Just after the hour mark, Pavlidis turned scorer himself, volleying home from Gianluca Prestianni's cross to double the lead. Villarreal's frustration showed early with Gerard Moreno booked in the 31st minute, and Enzo Barrenechea saw yellow for Benfica later on, but no red cards or VAR interventions altered the flow.

The statistics painted a perfectly even contest — both sides shared 50 per cent possession and Benfica edged corners only 3-2 — so neither team dominated the run of play. Rafa Silva earned a 9.44 rating as the standout performer, scoring once from midfield to cap a polished individual display.

Questions & Answers

What was the final score of Benfica vs Villarreal?

Benfica 2-0 Villarreal (Club Friendly Games).

Who scored?

Rafa Silva (52', assist Vangelis Pavlidis) for Benfica; Vangelis Pavlidis (76', assist Gianluca Prestianni) for Benfica.

Were there any cards in Benfica vs Villarreal?

Yellow cards: Gerard Moreno (Villarreal); Enzo Barrenechea (Benfica).

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