UEFA Champions League League Stage - 1
Benfica 2 - 3 FT Qarabag
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
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
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
A. Dedic
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
4
Tackles
86%
Duel Win %
A. Silva
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N. Otamendi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Dahl
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
R. Rios
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
E. Barrenechea
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
F. Aursnes
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
70
Total Mins
70
Entry
G. Sudakov
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
7.3
Rating
A. Schjelderup
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
70
Total Mins
70
Entry
Forwards
V. Pavlidis
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
BENCH
S. Soares
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
R. Obrador
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Araujo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
G. Oliveira
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Santos
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Barreiro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Veloso
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Rego
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Prioste
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
F. Ivanovic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
G. Prestianni
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Araujo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Qarabag
Goalkeepers
M. Kochalski
SIEVE
33%
Save %
33%
Save %
2
Conceded
1
Saves
Defenders
Matheus Silva
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
7
Tackles
76%
Duel Win %
B. Mustafazada
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Medina
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
E. Cafarquliyev
LATE SHIFT
13
Late Mins
13
Late Mins
77
Total Mins
77
Entry
Midfielders
A. Zoubir
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Pedro Bicalho
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Jankovic
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7.3
Rating
Leandro Andrade
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Kady Borges
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
28%
Pass Acc
Forwards
C. Duran
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
8.3
Rating
BENCH
S. Mahammadaliyev
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
F. Buntic
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
S. Mmaee
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dani Bolt
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Bayramov
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Huseynov
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
B. Huseynov
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Chriso
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
O. Kashchuk
CLUTCH HERO
86
Goal Time
86
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.3
Rating
E. Addai
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Qurbanly
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
League Standings
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +19
P: 8 GD: +14
P: 8 GD: +12
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +9
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -1
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -1
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -5
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: -13
P: 8 GD: -11
P: 8 GD: -14
P: 8 GD: -13
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
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.
A Battle for European Survival
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 27/100. This clash at the Estádio da Luz represents a desperate scramble for the top 24, where the loser faces the very real threat of early elimination from the Champions League.
The Setup
As we approach this September 16, 2025 fixture, the Stakes could not be higher for two sides sitting on the periphery of the knockout phase. Benfica currently languishes in 25th place with six points, just one spot below the critical playoff line. Their Form has taken a worrying turn; after starting the campaign with two wins, they have slumped to three consecutive defeats. The home side’s Balance has been disrupted, and they must rediscover their early-season clinical edge to avoid a disastrous exit from the competition. Meanwhile, Qarabag sits in 22nd with seven points, precariously clinging to a position that would grant them a playoff berth. Their journey has been equally erratic, but they arrive in Lisbon knowing that even a draw could be a massive step toward securing their place among the elite. For both clubs, this is effectively a continental six-pointer.
Key Battle
Without individual Stars taking the spotlight in recent weeks, this match will be decided by the tactical discipline of the respective units. The battle pits the Benfica home midfield against the disciplined defensive block of the visitors. Benfica will look to dominate possession and exploit the wings to break down a Qarabag side that has conceded 13 goals so far this season. The visitors will rely on their collective transition play, looking to frustrate the Lisbon crowd and catch the hosts on the break when they overcommit in search of a season-saving goal.
Our Prediction
Benfica’s home advantage at the Estádio da Luz usually provides the extra gear needed in high-pressure moments. Expect the hosts to control the tempo from the opening whistle, though their recent defensive fragility suggests Qarabag will find a way through at least once. However, the sheer necessity of the three points should drive the Portuguese giants to a hard-fought 2-1 victory, hauling themselves back into the playoff conversation and leaving the visitors looking nervously over their shoulders.