The feel good factor at Benfica following their Champions League heroics has been tarnished after a 0-0 draw against Tondela.
The torrential rain that Storm Kristin has been unleashing on the country continued at Estádio João Cardoso where terrible conditions persisted for the duration of the match.
Gianluca Prestianni failed to spot Vangelis Pavlidis wide open early on before sending the Greek striker through on goal, he lost his footing in the heavy conditions.
Andreas Schjelderup was looking lively but it would be Tondela that went desperately close in the 26th minute. Samuel Dahl made a mess of a regulation clearance, Rodrigo Conceição pouncing and finding Jordan Siebatcheus who hit the post.
That was as good as it got for the hosts as Benfica began to dominate, Bernardo Fontes saving efforts from Prestianni and Pavlidis.
Leandro Barreiro got past Bebeto near the byline and drove into the box, the midfielder going to ground with referee Luís Godinho awarding a penalty. He was summoned to the touchline monitor by the VAR and predictably reversed his decision.
Daniel Banjaqui’s shot was tipped over the bar by Fontes who continued where he left off after the break, parrying Prestianni’s effort wide.
Benfica turned up the heat as the conditions continued to wreak havoc and deny José Mourinho’s side any ability to play free flowing football.
Sidny Lopes and Rafa entered the fray, Lopes immediately delivering a cross to Pavlidis who headed wide. Prestianni missed the target and Fontes denied Fredrik Aursnes on two occasions as the clock ticked down.
Mourinho introduced Bruma and Anísio Cabral but there would be no breakthrough. Bruma, Dahl and Cabral failed to take their opportunities as the relegation threatened hosts held on for a valuable point.
Familiar Tale
Benfica find themselves in a strange situation in the Primeira Liga, undefeated in 20 matches but sitting third on the table. They trail Sporting CP by five points and could be 12 behind Porto in 24 hours time.
Despite the atrocious conditions which made passing inside the box virtually impossible, the Eagles ended with 20-6 shots including 8-1 on target.
Bernardo Fontes was a deserved man of the match, Mourinho summing it up by saying: “We weren't effective. Even with the difficult pitch conditions, the team tried to create chances and play until the end. The Tondela goalkeeper made some very valuable saves.”
“What I feared was an emotional hangover from Wednesday’s game and a lack of concentration or an arrogant attitude. But it was precisely the opposite,” added Mourinho. “The team respected the game, played to win, did everything to win, deserved to win, but didn’t win.”
