Benfica 2-3 Qarabag FK Player Ratings: Georgiy Sudakov 8.5/10 Rated as Qarabag FK Stuns Benfica in a 3-2 Thriller

The opening gameweek of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 started with a sensational comeback. A game that will be remembered in the history of Qarabag FK, as they pulled off an upset against Benfica at the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica. This was a game of two halves, defined by a stunning collapse from the home side and an unbelievable display of resilience from the visitors. It all felt like a straightforward evening for Benfica was on the cards. The hosts stormed into a two-goal lead within 16 minutes. Enzo Barrenechea opened the scoring with a header, and Vangelis Pavlidis quickly doubled the advantage. At that point, we thought it was game over. However, Qarabag had other ideas. Leandro Andrade pulled one back before halftime, injecting life into the contest.

The second half saw a complete momentum shift. Camilo Duran leveled the scoreline just after the break, and the comeback was completed when substitute Oleksii Kashchuk netted a late winner. This match will be remembered for Qarabag's sheer determination and Benfica's inability to manage the game from a winning position. A truly remarkable European night. Here are the Benfica Vs Qarabag FK player ratings.

Benfica Player Ratings vs Qarabag FK

Here are the Benfica player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Anatoliy Trubin - 5.5: A very tough night for the keeper. He conceded three goals from just a handful of shots on target. While he made a good save to deny Durán in the first half, his presence didn't inspire confidence. The Benfica goalkeeper seemed helpless as Qarabağ mounted their comeback. A keeper at this level needs to be a more commanding figure when the pressure is on.

Defenders

António Silva - 6.0: A mixed performance from the central defender. He had some solid moments, winning most of his duels and making five clearances. However, he was also credited with an error that led to a shot. Part of a defensive unit that completely capitulated after going 2-0 up, which reflects poorly on everyone involved. He needed to be a leader back there and wasn't.

Amar Dedić - 6.0: He was busy down the right flank, getting plenty of touches and recovering the ball eight times. He even tried to contribute offensively with a key pass. Despite his efforts, he was part of a backline that conceded three goals at home. We noticed he was solid in his individual battles, but the collective defensive structure was just not there.

Samuel Dahl - 5.0: It was a difficult evening for the left-back. He struggled to make an impact, losing possession 15 times and failing to win any of his five contested duels. Offensively, his crossing was ineffective, and defensively, he looked vulnerable. A performance he'll want to forget quickly.

Nicolás Otamendi - 5.5: As the captain and most experienced defender, he has to take a large share of the blame. The defense he led fell apart spectacularly. While his passing was secure and he won most of his aerial battles, his leadership was nowhere to be seen when Qarabağ started to apply pressure.

Midfielders

Enzo Barrenechea - 7.5: He really did his part, especially in the first half. Enzo scored the opening goal with a well-timed header and was a real presence in midfield, with a massive 95 touches and 10 ball recoveries. It's a shame his excellent individual performance was wasted.

Fredrik Aursnes - 6.0: An industrious but ultimately ineffective display. He worked hard but gave the ball away too often and was caught offside once. He didn't offer much creativity before being substituted in the 70th minute.

Georgiy Sudakov - 8.5: The best player in a Benfica shirt by a country mile. He was the creative engine, providing two brilliant assists, including a perfect cross for the opening goal. He constantly tried to make things happen, but his teammates couldn't match his quality or fight. A truly stellar performance in a losing effort. He was our man of the match.

Richard Ríos - 6.5: He had his moments, including a shot that rattled the woodwork. However, he struggled to impose himself on the game, losing possession frequently and getting dribbled past three times. It felt like he was always a second too late to the challenge or the pass.

Andreas Schjelderup - 6.0: He showed some nice touches and created a couple of chances for his teammates. However, he lost the majority of his duels and committed four fouls, showing his frustration. Subbed off after 70 minutes, he never really got a firm grip on the game.

Forwards

Vangelis Pavlidis - 7.5: He did what a striker is paid to do. He scored a goal and was a constant threat with his movement and link-up play, providing two key passes. His performance was sharp and clinical. It's a mystery why he was substituted when the team needed a goal.

Substitutes

Franjo Ivanovic - 6.0: Came on but couldn't really influence the game.

Gianluca Prestianni - 6.0: Had a couple of shots but nothing to trouble the keeper.

Henrique Araújo - 6.0: Brought on late and had a shot blocked.

Leandro Barreiro - 6.0: Added fresh legs but the tide had already turned.

Manager

B. Nascimento - 5.0: A disastrous result for the manager. His team had a 2-0 lead at home and completely collapsed. His tactical setup failed to adapt to Qarabağ's pressure, and his substitutions, particularly taking off Vangelis Pavlidis, were questionable. He will face serious questions after this defeat.

Qarabağ Player Ratings vs Benfica

Here are the Qarabag FK player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Mateusz Kochalski - 6.5: Conceded two early goals but could do little about either of them. After that, he was solid. He made a crucial save and was commanding in his box, claiming a high ball well. His distribution was a bit erratic, but he did his job when called upon in the second half. Showed good composure after the initial shock.

Defenders

Matheus Silva - 8.0: What an absolute monster of a performance. After a chaotic start for his team, he was immense. He won an incredible 15 out of 20 duels and made seven tackles. He drew six fouls, constantly frustrating the Benfica attack.

Bahlul Mustafazada - 6.5: Had a very shaky start and made an error leading to a shot. However, he grew into the game and made nine crucial clearances. He settled his nerves and put in a much more composed display in the second half, helping to see out the historic win.

Elvin Cafarquliyev - 6.5: A solid and energetic performance at left-back. He won more duels than he lost and was tidy in possession before being substituted. He played his part in turning the tide, battling hard for every ball. A good shift.

Kevin Medina - 7.0: He was a key part of the defensive turnaround. He made a massive eight clearances and two interceptions. While his passing wasn't always perfect, his defensive positioning and reading of the game were excellent in the second half, repelling wave after wave of late Benfica attacks.

Midfielders

Marko Jankovic - 7.5: He was instrumental in the comeback before his unfortunate injury. He provided the clever assist for the equalizing goal and was a creative force in midfield. His vision and passing were key to unlocking the home defense.

Abdellah Zoubir - 7.0: The captain led by example with his tireless work rate. He was very tidy on the ball with 94% pass accuracy and got an assist for his troubles. He didn't stop running and his determination was infectious.

Leandro Andrade - 7.5: Scored the goal that changed everything. His strike before half-time gave Qarabağ belief. It was a well-taken finish that completely shifted the momentum of the match. An incredibly impactful contribution before he was subbed off.

Kady Borges - 7.5: A creative maestro. He created two big chances and delivered four key passes in total. He was unlucky to hit the woodwork himself. He was the architect of many of Qarabağ's best attacks, constantly probing and looking for openings.

Pedro Bicalho - 6.5: He did the dirty work in midfield that allowed the creative players to shine. He made three tackles and was a disruptive presence, breaking up Benfica's rhythm.

Forwards

Camilo Andres Durán Marquez - 8.0: A phenomenal performance. He scored the crucial equalizer and also provided an assist. He was a constant thorn in the side of the Benfica defense, taking four shots and always looking to run at them. Yes, he missed a big chance, but his goal and overall chaos were vital to the win.

Substitutes

Oleksii Kashchuk - 8.0: The hero of the night. Came on as a substitute and scored the winning goal with a cool finish. What an incredible impact. His goal will go down in Qarabağ folklore. The perfect substitution.

Emmanuel Addai - 6.5: Added pace and energy, setting up a late chance.

Toral Bayramov - 6.0: Helped shore up the defense to see out the win.

Musa Qurbanli - N/A: Came on in stoppage time.

Manager

Q. Qurbanov - 9.0: An absolute masterclass in management. To see his team go 2-0 down away from home and inspire them to fight back and win 3-2 is incredible. His tactical belief never wavered, and his substitutions were perfect. He deserves all the credit for one of the great Champions League upsets.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Georgiy Sudakov