Benfica thrash Al-Nassr, by Cristiano Ronaldo, in a friendly: 4-1

Benfica thrashed Al-Nassr, owned by Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazilian Anderson Talisca, by 4-1 in a friendly played in Faro, Portugal. This is the Saudi club’s second defeat in pre-season friendlies. Di María opened the scoring after sharing with Rafa Silva who ended up dribbling the opponent’s defender inside the area and covering the goalkeeper with a lot of class right after.

Who else would it be? #sporttvportugal #benfica #daily pic.twitter.com/wN1YUTvdhq

— SPORT TV (@SPORTTVPortugal) July 20, 2023

_{Goal by Di María in the friendly against Al-Nassr. (Featured photo: Reproduction/Twitter/Sportv)}

Then, Gonçalo Ramos stood out in the same way: he covered the goalkeeper to increase the score in the 30th minute and, after eight minutes of his first goal, he scored his second, before being substituted at halftime. Midfielder Khalid-Al Ghannam, from the Saudi club, also reduced the score in the 41st minute of the first stage. After several substitutions for the second goal by both Benfica and Al-Nassr, the Saudi team still failed to reduce the difference even keeping CR7 on the field. The young Norwegian striker Andreas Schjelderup, aged 19, scored the fourth for the eagles and closed the scoring.

Home of Luis Castro

So far, the start of former Botafogo coach Luís Castro has not been good: in four friendlies played there were two wins and two defeats. However, what draws attention is not the numbers themselves, but against whom. The first victory was 2-0, against Alverca, which plays in the third division of the Portuguese championship. The second was a 5-1 defeat against Farense, which plays for the second division of the Portuguese championship. Cristiano Ronaldo did not score in both games.

The defeats, on the other hand, were against teams from the first division of their respective leagues. The first was against Celta de Vigo (ESP), by 5 to 0, and the second, against Benfica (POR), by 4 to 1. In addition to the Portuguese star not having scored any goals, he still took a hat from former Real Madrid teammate, Di María.

pic.twitter.com/5GtMgHu2Aq

— Scof (@scof1904) July 20, 2023

Advertisement

_{Di María’s sheet on Cristiano Ronaldo. (Featured photo: Reproduction/Twitter/@scof1904}

Brazilians David Neres and Anderson Talisca were starters in this game. Midfielder Brozovic, formerly of Inter Milan, played for the second time in the current team. Soon, Al-Nassr is now heading to Japan, where he plays friendlies against PSG, on July 25th, and Inter Milan, on the 27th.

Benfica’s retrospect

Benfica, after adding 3 wins and no defeats in this pre-season: 2-0 at Southampton, 3-1 at Basel and 4-1 at Al-Nassr, is preparing to face Celta de Vigo, this Friday, and the newly promoted to the Premier League (first division of the English league), Burnley, on the next 25th.

Featured photo: Di María celebrates his goal in Benfica’s victory over Al-Nassr. Reproduction/Patricia de Melo Moreira/AFP