Benfica B vs Lusitano Évora 1911

Lusitano's equaliser arrived 16 minutes into the second half, just when Benfica B might have expected to push on. Diagne's strike cancelled out Ferreira's opener and reset the contest, but neither side could find a winner in the remaining half-hour. The timing of the goal — early enough in the second half to deny Benfica B a controlled response — was the decisive moment of a match that otherwise offered few clear-cut chances.

Gustavo Ferreira (Benfica B) — The forward took his chance well in the 24th minute, scoring his first pre-season goal of the summer. One of the brighter performers in a Benfica side that rotated heavily.

Ousmane Diagne (Lusitano Évora 1911) — His second-half equaliser earned Lusitano a deserved share of the spoils. Showed composure to finish against a Benfica B defence that had kept a clean sheet in the opening 45 minutes.

Nélson Veríssimo (Benfica B manager) — Used 23 players to spread minutes across the squad, prioritising fitness over result. The rotation makes individual assessments difficult, but the approach is standard for this stage of pre-season.

Benfica B's 23-player rotation means the 1-1 scoreline tells only part of the story. The hosts had the better of the first half — Ferreira's goal was the standout moment — but Lusitano grew into the game after the break. The absence of detailed shot or possession data from a behind-closed-doors friendly limits deeper analysis, but the pattern of a first-half lead followed by a second-half equaliser is common in pre-season, when wholesale changes disrupt rhythm.

This was Benfica B's second pre-season friendly following a 0-0 draw with SU Sintrense on 11 July (also at Benfica Campus). Veríssimo's side have six more friendlies scheduled before their II Liga opener against Leixões on the weekend of 8–9 August.

Next up for Benfica B:

• 18 July: vs SCU Torreense (Benfica Campus, 10:30)
• 18 July: vs SC Farense (São Brás de Alportel, 19:00)
• 25 July: vs Casa Pia AC (Benfica Campus)
• 25 July: vs AD Mérida (Benfica Campus)
• 1 August: vs CD Mafra (Benfica Campus)
• 1 August: vs Atlético CP (Estádio da Tapadinha, Germano Figueiredo Trophy)

Lusitano Évora 1911 continue their Liga 3 preparations ahead of the new season.

A useful fitness workout for both sides, with Benfica B showing first-half intent through Ferreira's goal before Lusitano's sharper second-half response earned the draw. Pre-season friendlies at this stage are about minutes and conditioning, and Veríssimo will have ticked both boxes. The search for a first pre-season win goes on for Benfica B ahead of a busy run of seven more friendlies in 17 days.