Sporting 0-1 Benfica Player Ratings: Vangelis Pavlidis Rated 7/10 As Benfica Thump Sporting to Win the Portuguese Super Cup

Sporting CP locked horns with Benfica in the final of the Supertaca Candido de Oliveira, aka the Portuguese Super Cup, on 31st July, 2025, at 8:00 PM (GMT), at the Estadio Algarve in Loule, Portugal. The two teams came into the game with the target of winning the Super Cup and ending the previous season on a high.

Sporting seemed to be the better team in the first half, as they played with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm. They opened the scoring through Pedro Goncalves within the first five minutes, but the VAR was quick to rule it out due to an offside in the build up. Benfica took their own sweet time to get into the game but couldn't find many openings in the Sporting backline. Sporting finished the half strongly just like they started but were unable to find the back of the net.

Benfica started with renewed energy in the second half and looked better than Sporting on the field. They pressed the Sporting midfielders more vigorously and were first to get onto the loose balls in and around the middle of the park. Their constant pressure paid dividends, as Vangelis Pavlidis got first to a second ball that wasn't cleared well by the Sporting defense and hit a low shot that was powerful enough to beat Rui Silva. The stadium erupted as the Benfica fans went crazy after Pavlidis' strike in the 50th minute lifted their spirits up. Sporting tried their best for the rest of the second half but were unable to find a way to get back into the game.

Here are the complete Sporting vs. Benfica Player Ratings.

Sporting Player Ratings

Here are Sportsdunia's Sporting Player Ratings:

Goalkeeper:

Rui Silva - 5/10

The Sporting goalkeeper didn't have much to do in the first half; he played well with the ball at his feet. Silva should have done better to save Pavlidis' shot in the second half as it seemed to be a regualtion save for any goalkeeper at that level of professional football.

Defenders:

Ivan Fresneda - 6/10

The right back was on hand to defend against the threat possessed by Kerem Akturkoglu. Fresneda was decent offensively, as he made numerous overlapping runs and put in quality crosses into the box.

Ousmane Diomande - 5.5/10

Diomande was rock solid at the back and thwarted a number of Benfica attacks which that have been dangerous. The centre back made quite a few strong tackles in and around the Sporting penalty area.

Goncalo Inacio - 6/10

Inacio supported his partner well at the back and held the defensive line quite effectively. He made a few good runs with the ball from the back and also played some line-breaking passes from the heart of the defense.

Maxi Araujo - 5.5/10

The left back was quite decent throughout the game. Araujo got forward whenever he had the chance and kept Fredrik Aursnes at bay for most of the game.

Midfielders:

Morten Hjulmand - 6.5/10

Hjulmand played in the double pivot and was quite handy in the middle of the park. The midfielder used his physicality well to shield the ball effectively and made a few good runs with the ball in the final third.

Hidemasa Morita - 6/10

Hidemasa Morita made the double pivot complete, as his stamina and work rate helped Sporting a lot to take control of the game in the midfield. He made a couple of good tackles in and around the danger areas to stop the Benfica players from making the most out of their counter attacks.

Geny Catamo - 6.5/10

Catamo played on the right flank and was quite lively throughout the game. He took on Samuel Dahl from time to time and got the better of him on a few occasions.

Francisco Trincao - 6/10

Francisco Trincao played in the no. 10 position and was pretty decent. The midfielder played a few slick passes to open up the Benfica defense and got into dangerous positions in and around the penalty area.

Pedro Goncalves - 6.5/10

The left winger tried his best on the left-hand side to make things happen and was quite successful in doing so. He gave Amar Dedic a hard time at the back, as his trickery was too much to deal with.

Forwards:

Conrad Harder - 6/10

Harder dropped deep at times to help out his midfielders. The forward held the ball well and passed to a better-positioned teammate which kept the Sporting attacks free-flowing. Harder provided a brilliant assist for Pedro Goncalves, but the goal was ruled offside.

Substitutes:

Luis Suarez - 6/10

Giorgio Kochorashvili - 6/10

Zeno Debast - 5/10

Geovany Quenda - NA

Ricardo Esgaio - NA

Manager:

Rui Borges - 6/10

Rui Borges fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation consisting of a double pivot and a lone striker upfront. His team pressed well and never took their foot off the pedal. Their attacks were swift and unpredictable at times, which made the Benfica players quite confused. His team seemed to be down on energy in the second half, which Benfica took good advantage of.

Benfica Player Ratings

Here are Sportsdunia's Benfica Player Ratings:

Goalkeeper:

Anatoliy Trubin - 6/10

Anatoliy Trubin should have done better for Pedro Goncalves' effort early on in the first half but was lucky to escape unharmed due to the offside call. The goalkeeper had a decent game throughout and looked quite unfazed with the ball at his feet.

Defenders:

Amar Dedic - 5.5/10

The right back had a tough time dealing with the pace and trickery of Pedro Goncalves, as he was often found out of position while trying to contain the Portuguese winger. Offensively, he offered little and earned himself a yellow card due to lack of discipline.

Nicolas Otamendi - 6.5/10

The veteran Argentine defender played quite well at the heart of the Benfica defense, as he blocked a number of shots that could have caused a lot of problems. Otamendi was strong in his tackles and intercepted many dangerous balls in and around the penalty area.

Antonio Silva - 6/10

The young Portuguese centre back complemented his captain quite well at the back. He stepped forward to win duels and played a number of slick passes from the back to his midfielders occupying dangerous positions in Benfica's half.

Samuel Dahl - 5.5/10

Dahl was kept on his toes by the lively Geny Catamo for most of the game. The left back struggled a bit against the raw pace of the winger but was successful in preventing him from doing much damage. Offensively, Dahl did get forward at times but wasn't very effective.

Midfielders:

Richard Rios - 6.5/10

Benfica's new signing, Richard Rios, had a decent game in the final. The Colombian showed a lot of composure in the middle of the park and regulated the flow of play quite well.

Enzo Barrenechea - 6/10

Barrenechea played in the double pivot alongside Rios and did a pretty good job. He thwarted a number of dangerous Sporting attacks by winning the ball at the middle of the park and didn't shy away from joining the forwards in the attack.

Leandro Barreiro - 5.5/10

Leandro Barreiro played a silent match contrary to his teammates, as he was not allowed to play his natural game, thanks to the likes of Hjulmand and Morita in the middle of the park.

Forwards:

Fredrik Aursnes - 6.5/10

The right winger brought his A-game to the match, as he gave Maxi Araujo a difficult time on the pitch. Aursnes got into dangerous positions in and around the box and made a number of key passes for his teammates to latch onto.

Vangelis Pavlidis - 7/10

Pavlidis proved to be the difference maker once again, as his strike in the 50th minute put Benfica in the lead. The striker worked really hard upfront by pressing the Sporting backline and chasing behind to win the ball in the middle of the park at times.

Kerem Akturkoglu - 6/10

Akturkoglu had a decent game on the left, as his trickery was too hot to handle at times. He played numerous good crosses into the box and tracked back to help Samuel Dahl at times.

Substitutes:

Florentino Luis - NA

Gianluca Prestianni - NA

Tiago Gouveia - NA

Henrique Araujo - NA

Manager:

Bruno Lage - 6.5/10

Bruno Lage played a 4-3-3 formation, which transitioned into 4-2-3-1 while attacking with Vangelis Pavlidis as the sole striker up front. His team lagged behind a bit in terms of work rate in the first half but made a brilliant turnaround in the second. His players played with a lot more zeal and enthusiasm in the second half, winning every second ball, which ultimately resulted in the goal.

Sportsdunia Player of the Match: