Benfica must produce a response at the Estádio da Luz on July 30 if they are to keep their Europa League hopes alive after last Thursday's 2-1 defeat to St Gallen in Switzerland. Marco Silva has made it clear the task is not simply to win, but to do so with the kind of collective performance that can turn the tie around.
The first leg left Benfica with work to do after Aliou Baldé put St Gallen ahead in the 37th minute, Rafa Silva levelled before half-time, and Tom Gaal struck the winner in the 80th minute. That result means Benfica now have to overturn the deficit at home, where the expectation will be for a far stronger and more controlled display.
Marco Silva: Benfica need control from the start
Marco Silva said Benfica must be stronger collectively and produce a performance that allows their qualities to overcome the way their opponents play. He also stressed the importance of an early response, saying the team want to send a message to the supporters from the beginning and that a strong start will help bring the match under control.
That is the key point in this tie. Benfica do not just need moments of quality; they need authority. At this level, Marco Silva said, every match has to be approached as if it were a final, and that mindset will matter from the first whistle.
What Benfica need to do
The arithmetic is straightforward: Benfica need a comeback to advance. A one-goal win would be enough to level the aggregate score, but they must first break down a St Gallen side that has already shown it can punish lapses and manage decisive moments.
For Benfica, the challenge is as much psychological as tactical. A home crowd at the Estádio da Luz will expect intensity, faster circulation and a more assertive approach than they managed for large parts of the first leg. If they start slowly, the pressure only increases.
Marco Silva said he has confidence that the players will respond, and that belief will now be tested in the most direct way possible. Benfica have the quality to recover the tie, but the performance has to match the occasion.
St Gallen know the tie is still open
St Gallen have not arrived in Lisbon thinking the job is finished. Their own view is clear: the tie remains open. Carlos Vicens said his side lacked energy, assertiveness and determination in their attacks in the first leg, and added that they want to show a different version of themselves.
He also said they want to be a solid, hardworking team that uses its processes to pursue victory without thinking too much about the small advantage they have. That suggests St Gallen will not simply sit back and wait for Benfica to come at them.
For Benfica, that makes the opening stages even more important. If they can take control early, the pressure shifts. If not, the night becomes far more complicated.
The prize is straightforward. Benfica want to stay in the Europa League, and July 30 gives them the chance to do it in front of their own supporters. Anything less, and the comeback will not happen.
