Benfica head coach Marco Silva has strongly criticized the decision to play behind closed doors for Sunday's league opener against Académico de Viseu. Outraged by the punishment that will silence the Estádio da Luz, Silva stated that believing problems are solved by removing 65,000 people from a stadium is completely mistaken.
He noted that one of Benfica's greatest strengths is its fan base, adding that something very important was taken away from the team. Silva emphasized that football only makes sense when supporters are present, pointing out that effective examples exist across Europe to address bad behavior without banning fans.
Benfica kicks off the new league campaign against newly promoted Académico de Viseu without supporters in the stands. Silva described the situation as a major challenge for a club that has not won the league title in three years, stressing that the squad must be prepared to execute its game plan and pursue victory.
Title race and squad tactical balance
Looking ahead to the season, Silva expects a four-way battle for the championship and refused to grant automatic favorite status to reigning champion FC Porto. He stated that Benfica must remain focused on their own preparations and playing style.
Although Benfica scored 12 goals in four pre-season matches, showing strong attacking capability, Silva warned that teams cannot secure titles or build consistent seasons without keeping clean sheets. He said tactical balance must remain central to their game to avoid becoming unbalanced on the pitch.
Silva added Anísio to the group of central strikers while acknowledging that Ivanovic could leave Benfica before the transfer window closes in late August or early September. He admitted the team could potentially play with two strikers, noting it would not be the starting blueprint but remains a possibility given the characteristics of Pavlidis.
Goalkeeper hierarchy and transfer movement
In a surprising disclosure, Silva revealed that goalkeeper Samuel Soares is now third in the captaincy hierarchy behind Fredrik Aursnes and Tomás Araújo, positioning him ahead of Clément Lenglet and Leandro Barreiro. Soares previously started against Hearts and is expected to retain his starting spot against Académico de Viseu.
The selection comes at a time when Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin wants to leave Benfica after losing his first-choice status. Silva insisted that transfer market activity does not influence his selection decisions, acknowledging open transfer rumors while stressing that his duty is keeping players focused on team goals.
Addressing Trubin's situation, Silva assured that he sees no discomfort from the goalkeeper, whom he described as having a distinct personality. He stated that the club must remain prepared for occasional exaggerated reactions while maintaining the internal balance needed to manage them.
Silva also left open the possibility of Benfica pursuing a player like João Palhinha before the transfer window closes, stating the club will remain attentive to market options. Meanwhile, English club Aston Villa confirmed ongoing negotiations with Bayern Munich for the Portuguese midfielder.
Fan zone dispute and TV rights petition
Off the pitch, the Public Security Police (PSP) held Benfica responsible for organizing a fan zone celebration outside the Estádio da Luz. Police authorities stated that the event near the stadium gates went ahead without receiving official clearance from law enforcement.
In a separate initiative, Benfica has launched a petition seeking to suspend the proposed centralized model for television broadcasting rights.
