Benfica 3–1 Lech: Prestianni and Sudakov complete fourth European win

Benfica beat Lech Poznań 3–1 at the Estádio da Luz on 5 November, completing a fourth win from four Europa League league-phase matches.

Three goals, with a scare between them

Rafa opened the scoring in the sixth minute. Prestianni, introduced for Rafa in the 62nd, made it 2–0 five minutes later after receiving a pass from Sudakov on the left.

Lech substitute Bengtsson reduced the deficit in the 73rd minute, winning the ball as Barrenechea tried to pass out inside Benfica’s penalty area. Sudakov restored the two-goal margin in the 90th after Barrenechea found him on the left.

Barrenechea’s return in context

The pre-match story centred on his renewed availability. Benfica’s official match timeline confirms that he replaced Manu in the 62nd minute. His involvement in the visitors’ goal and Benfica’s third shows why a return to action should be assessed through specific moments, rather than treated as an automatic improvement.

Our analysis: the final margin understates the uncertainty after Lech made it 2–1. Prestianni’s contribution gave Benfica breathing room, but Sudakov’s late finish was needed to restore it. Four wins establish a strong league-phase position; the build-up error remains a useful point for review within that success.

This result analysis updates the earlier preview on the same page.