UEFA Champions League League Stage - 1

Benfica 2 - 3 FT Qarabag

Estádio da Luz

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
64
FT
Tue, Sep 16
Benfica
2-3
Qarabag
⚡ Intensity 63
⚖️ Balance 84
🏆 Stakes 0
🎲 Upset 0
Qarabag stuns Benfica in five-goal Champions League thriller

Qarabag Heists Champions League Shock at Estádio da Luz

Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 64/100. Qarabag's ruthless counter-attacking exposed Benfica's defensive fragility in a five-goal spectacle that rewrote the script on European football's biggest stage.

The Upset Factor Takes Hold

Benfica arrived at Estádio da Luz as the home fortress, yet within 90 minutes they were undone by a visiting side that turned chaos into currency. Enzo Barrenechea struck first for the hosts in the sixth minute, assisted by Gregório Sudakov, and Vangelis Pavlidis doubled the advantage ten minutes later. The Intensity seemed controlled, Benfica's possession (53%) translating into early dominance. But football punishes complacency with ruthless efficiency.Qarabag's transformation began in the 30th minute when Leandro Andrade pulled one back, set up by Camilo Duran, whose movement had already begun to unsettle Benfica's backline. The Colombian forward was operating at a different tempo—sharper, hungrier, more clinical. His rating of 8.3 reflected a complete performance: one goal, one assist, a constant thorn in the Portuguese defence.

The Turning Point: When Qarabag Seized Control

The second half opened with seismic consequences. Duran struck again in the 48th minute, this time finishing a move orchestrated by Marko Jankovic, and suddenly the Balance had shifted entirely. Benfica's 14 shots (only three on target) became a statistical monument to wastefulness. They dominated the ball but lacked the precision to convert Stakes into substance. Meanwhile, Qarabag's five shots on target—from just ten attempts—told a story of lethal efficiency. Matheus Silva's defensive mastery (8.2 rating) anchored the visitors' backline, turning Benfica's attacking intent into frustration.By the 86th minute, Oleksiy Kashchuk sealed the upset with a fifth goal, delivered by Aziz Zoubir. The scoreline read 3-2 to Qarabag—a Surprise of seismic proportions for a side sitting first in the league table with 18 points from seven games, their form now reading WLWWW with a +11 goal difference.

The Data Tells the Tale

Benfica's 86% pass accuracy (408 of 477) masked a fundamental breakdown in transition defence. They were picked apart repeatedly on the counter, their possession becoming a liability rather than an asset. Qarabag's 81% accuracy from 432 passes proved far more economical. The xG figures (Benfica 1.38, Qarabag 1.52) barely reflected the gulf in execution—one team created chances, the other buried them.

What is the Futmetrix Score?

The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.

Match Statistics

Possession
53%
47%
Benfica 53%
Qarabag 47%
Shots
14
10
Benfica 14
Qarabag 10
Shots on Target
3
5
Benfica 3
Qarabag 5
Expected Goals (xG)
1.38
1.52
Benfica 1.38
Qarabag 1.52
Passes
477
432
Benfica 477
Qarabag 432
Pass Accuracy
86%
81%
Benfica 86%
Qarabag 81%
Corners
8
3
Benfica 8
Qarabag 3
Fouls
11
6
Benfica 11
Qarabag 6
Yellow Cards
0
0
Benfica 0
Qarabag 0
Red Cards
0
0
Benfica 0
Qarabag 0

Match Events

6' E. Barrenechea (G. Sudakov)
16' V. Pavlidis
Leandro Andrade (C. Duran) 30'
HT
C. Duran (M. Jankovic) 48'
Leandro Andrade E. Addai 🔄 66'
70' 🔄 F. Aursnes F. Ivanovic
70' 🔄 A. Schjelderup G. Prestianni
M. Jankovic O. Kashchuk 🔄 77'
E. Cafarquliyev T. Bayramov 🔄 77'
79' 🔄 R. Rios L. Barreiro
79' 🔄 V. Pavlidis H. Araujo
O. Kashchuk (A. Zoubir) 86'
C. Duran M. Qurbanly 🔄 90'
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

Benfica

Goalkeepers
A. Trubin
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
A. Dedic
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
4
Tackles
86%
Duel Win %
A. Silva
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N. Otamendi
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Dahl
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
R. Rios
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
E. Barrenechea
SNIPER
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
F. Aursnes
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
70
Total Mins
70
Entry
G. Sudakov
PROVIDER
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
7.3
Rating
A. Schjelderup
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
70
Total Mins
70
Entry
Forwards
V. Pavlidis
SNIPER
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
BENCH
S. Soares
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
R. Obrador
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Araujo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
G. Oliveira
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Santos
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Barreiro
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Veloso
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Rego
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Prioste
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
F. Ivanovic
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
G. Prestianni
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Araujo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Qarabag

Goalkeepers
M. Kochalski
SIEVE
SIEVE
33%
Save %
33%
Save %
2
Conceded
1
Saves
Defenders
Matheus Silva
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
7
Tackles
76%
Duel Win %
B. Mustafazada
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Medina
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
E. Cafarquliyev
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
13
Late Mins
13
Late Mins
77
Total Mins
77
Entry
Midfielders
A. Zoubir
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Pedro Bicalho
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Jankovic
PROVIDER
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7.3
Rating
Leandro Andrade
SNIPER
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Kady Borges
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
28%
Pass Acc
Forwards
C. Duran
FINISHER
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
8.3
Rating
BENCH
S. Mahammadaliyev
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
F. Buntic
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
S. Mmaee
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dani Bolt
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Bayramov
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Huseynov
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
B. Huseynov
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Chriso
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
O. Kashchuk
CLUTCH HERO
CLUTCH HERO
86
Goal Time
86
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.3
Rating
E. Addai
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Qurbanly
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 Eintracht Frankfurt 1 3 5 1 +4 WEintracht Frankfurt 5 - 1 Galatasaray (18-09-2025)
2 Paris Saint Germain 1 3 4 0 +4 WParis Saint Germain 4 - 0 Atalanta (17-09-2025)
3 Sporting CP 1 3 4 1 +3 WSporting CP 4 - 1 Kairat Almaty (18-09-2025)
4 Club Brugge KV 1 3 4 1 +3 WClub Brugge KV 4 - 1 Monaco (18-09-2025)
5 Bayern München 1 3 3 1 +2 WBayern München 3 - 1 Chelsea (17-09-2025)
6 Union St. Gilloise 1 3 3 1 +2 WPSV Eindhoven 1 - 3 Union St. Gilloise (16-09-2025)
7 Arsenal 1 3 2 0 +2 WAthletic Club 0 - 2 Arsenal (16-09-2025)
8 Manchester City 1 3 2 0 +2 WManchester City 2 - 0 Napoli (18-09-2025)
9 Inter 1 3 2 0 +2 WAjax 0 - 2 Inter (17-09-2025)
10 Liverpool 1 3 3 2 +1 WLiverpool 3 - 2 Atletico Madrid (17-09-2025)
11 Qarabag 1 3 3 2 +1 WBenfica 2 - 3 Qarabag (16-09-2025)
12 Barcelona 1 3 2 1 +1 WNewcastle 1 - 2 Barcelona (18-09-2025)
13 Real Madrid 1 3 2 1 +1 WReal Madrid 2 - 1 Marseille (16-09-2025)
14 Tottenham 1 3 1 0 +1 WTottenham 1 - 0 Villarreal (16-09-2025)
15 Borussia Dortmund 1 1 4 4 0 DJuventus 4 - 4 Borussia Dortmund (16-09-2025)
16 Juventus 1 1 4 4 0 DJuventus 4 - 4 Borussia Dortmund (16-09-2025)
17 Bayer Leverkusen 1 1 2 2 0 DFC Copenhagen 2 - 2 Bayer Leverkusen (18-09-2025)
18 Bodo/Glimt 1 1 2 2 0 DSlavia Praha 2 - 2 Bodo/Glimt (17-09-2025)
19 FC Copenhagen 1 1 2 2 0 DFC Copenhagen 2 - 2 Bayer Leverkusen (18-09-2025)
20 Slavia Praha 1 1 2 2 0 DSlavia Praha 2 - 2 Bodo/Glimt (17-09-2025)
21 Olympiakos Piraeus 1 1 0 0 0 DOlympiakos Piraeus 0 - 0 Pafos (17-09-2025)
22 Pafos 1 1 0 0 0 DOlympiakos Piraeus 0 - 0 Pafos (17-09-2025)
23 Benfica 1 0 2 3 -1 LBenfica 2 - 3 Qarabag (16-09-2025)
24 Atletico Madrid 1 0 2 3 -1 LLiverpool 3 - 2 Atletico Madrid (17-09-2025)
25 Newcastle 1 0 1 2 -1 LNewcastle 1 - 2 Barcelona (18-09-2025)
26 Marseille 1 0 1 2 -1 LReal Madrid 2 - 1 Marseille (16-09-2025)
27 Villarreal 1 0 0 1 -1 LTottenham 1 - 0 Villarreal (16-09-2025)
28 Chelsea 1 0 1 3 -2 LBayern München 3 - 1 Chelsea (17-09-2025)
29 PSV Eindhoven 1 0 1 3 -2 LPSV Eindhoven 1 - 3 Union St. Gilloise (16-09-2025)
30 Ajax 1 0 0 2 -2 LAjax 0 - 2 Inter (17-09-2025)
31 Napoli 1 0 0 2 -2 LManchester City 2 - 0 Napoli (18-09-2025)
32 Athletic Club 1 0 0 2 -2 LAthletic Club 0 - 2 Arsenal (16-09-2025)
33 Monaco 1 0 1 4 -3 LClub Brugge KV 4 - 1 Monaco (18-09-2025)
34 Kairat Almaty 1 0 1 4 -3 LSporting CP 4 - 1 Kairat Almaty (18-09-2025)
35 Galatasaray 1 0 1 5 -4 LEintracht Frankfurt 5 - 1 Galatasaray (18-09-2025)
36 Atalanta 1 0 0 4 -4 LParis Saint Germain 4 - 0 Atalanta (17-09-2025)