Marco Silva said Benfica are content with where they stand, but not with how far they can still go, as he previewed Benfica vs Gil Vicente on Sunday at estádio da Luz. The Benfica coach said there is still a long road ahead and that the side has “muito a melhorar” even after a strong reaction in its last match.
That is why the fixture is drawing attention now. Benfica host Gil Vicente at a point in the season when Silva said the campaign is only at the beginning of September, the calendar has been tight since 23 de julho and there is no room for comfortable assumptions. He said he congratulated the players after the previous game because he was pleased with the reaction after losing the ball, but he also stressed that progress in the team’s dynamics depends on an open mind and on accepting that tougher battles are still coming.
Prestianni is part of that picture. Silva said the young player has worked hard in training and that the effort has helped him express his best football. He also praised his commitment, a detail that matters because Benfica are still trying to sharpen the way they move and connect while keeping results steady.
Gil Vicente will not arrive as a passive opponent. Silva described them as a quality side that started the season well and can cause problems through the wings and in one-on-one situations. That makes the match more than a routine home date for Benfica, especially with Silva refusing to compare his team’s form with direct rivals and insisting that the championship is still very long.
There is also a practical edge to the selection questions. Bah is not recovered for the match, while Banjaqui is expected to be an option on the right side of defense. Silva said Trubin can play whenever Benfica need him, and he praised Diogo Ferreira’s current form as the third goalkeeper. Those details suggest Benfica still have decisions to make even as the coach projects calm.
Gil Vicente arrive with their own frustration. Luís Pinto said his team must know how to defend with everyone, with concentration and patience, after a 1-0 loss to Ac. Viseu in which they took 33 shots. For Benfica, the message from the eve of the match is simpler: the team is satisfied enough to keep moving, but not finished enough to relax. Sunday will show whether that balance holds at estádio da Luz.
