Barreiro and Ríos Fire Benfica Past Napoli at Estádio da Luz

Benfica secured a vital 2-0 victory over Napoli at the Estádio da Luz, lifting themselves from 30th place in the Champions League standings while leaving the Italian side languishing in 20th place. The Portuguese giants desperately needed points after a dismal start to their European campaign, and they delivered when it mattered most against Antonio Conte's men.

Richard Ríos opened the scoring in spectacular fashion after just 20 minutes, drilling a right-footed shot from very close range into the bottom right corner. The Colombian midfielder pounced on a loose ball in the six-yard box to give Benfica the perfect start. Ríos then turned provider before the break, setting up Leandro Barreiro for the second goal in the 49th minute. The Luxembourg international swept home from the right side of the six-yard area, converting Ríos's precise assist to double the Eagles' advantage.

The tactical battle saw Napoli dominate possession with 60.4% of the ball, but Benfica's compact defensive structure frustrated the visitors throughout. Scott McTominay and Eljif Elmas struggled to find space in central areas, while Noa Lang and David Neres were repeatedly thwarted by the disciplined defending of Nicolás Otamendi and his backline. Fredrik Aursnes and Enzo Barrenechea controlled the tempo for the hosts, breaking up play and launching quick counter-attacks.

Despite their territorial dominance, Napoli managed just two shots on target compared to Benfica's five, highlighting their struggles in the final third. The visitors earned six corners to Benfica's two and committed 21 fouls in their frustration, but couldn't break down the resolute Portuguese defense. Vanja Milinkovic-Savic made crucial saves to keep Napoli in the contest, denying Vangelis Pavlidis twice in the closing stages.

The turning point came in the 71st minute when Anatoliy Trubin produced a stunning save to deny David Neres's curling effort from outside the box. That moment of brilliance preserved Benfica's two-goal cushion and deflated Napoli's hopes of mounting a comeback during a frantic final 20 minutes.

Benfica now host Paris Saint-Germain on December 17 in what promises to be another crucial Champions League encounter. Napoli return to Serie A action when they host Udinese on December 14, needing to refocus on domestic matters after this disappointing European setback.