Mourinho’s Benfica Faces a Tough Test at Guimarães Fortress
It’s a big night in Portuguese football as Vitória de Guimarães hosts Benfica at the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques for the 10th round of the Liga Portugal Betclic. The atmosphere is already electric, and fans from both sides have filled the stands for what promises to be one of the weekend’s most exciting clashes.
Benfica comes into this match in excellent form, unbeaten in domestic competitions since José Mourinho took charge earlier this season. The team has been dominant lately—scoring freely and defending solidly—with two consecutive victories that saw them net eight goals without conceding a single one. Mourinho’s men are not just looking for another three points tonight—they’re looking to maintain pressure on league leaders FC Porto and show that their momentum is no coincidence.
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On the other side, Vitória de Guimarães finds itself in a phase of mixed results. After two straight wins, they stumbled with a 0–2 loss away at Famalicão. Still, at home, the “Conquistadores” have been remarkably strong. They haven’t lost a match in front of their fans this season, and that’s something they’ll want to protect fiercely against one of Portugal’s football giants. Their coach, Luís Pinto, made it clear before kickoff that his side will need to be brave and play with intensity to match Benfica’s physical and tactical power. He’s counting on the passionate Guimarães crowd to make a difference, and anyone who’s ever seen a game at this stadium knows how intimidating that atmosphere can be.
José Mourinho, meanwhile, acknowledged that playing in Guimarães is always a challenge. He praised his squad’s recent progress, especially highlighting players like Dodi Lukebakio and Richard Ríos, who have started to find their rhythm. Mourinho also hinted that more news about his long-term plans with Benfica will be shared after the club’s elections on November 10, keeping everyone curious about what comes next.
As for tonight’s lineups, Benfica starts with Trubin in goal, Otamendi leading the defense, and Pavlidis spearheading the attack. Vitória replies with Juan Castillo between the posts and Fabio Blanco up front. João Pinheiro from AF Braga will referee this encounter, assisted by Bruno Jesus and Luciano Maia, while Rui Costa takes charge of the VAR.
Kickoff is moments away. Benfica steps onto the field to warm up under whistles from the home fans and applause from their loyal supporters in red. Across the pitch, the Vitória players are cheered loudly by their home faithful. Everything is set for a thrilling contest—two proud teams, a roaring crowd, and a manager in Mourinho chasing what he achieved 25 years ago: conquering Guimarães once again.
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