Ajax 0-2 Benfica: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Coral’s post-match review of Ajax 0-2 Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Benfica got off to a flying start in this Champions League clash, grabbing an early lead when S. Dahl slotted home assisted by R. Rios in the 6th minute, putting Ajax on the back foot right away. Despite Ajax dominating possession and racking up corners, they couldn’t find a way through, with their triple substitution around the 74th minute aiming to inject fresh energy but failing to turn the tide. The game stayed tense, but Benfica sealed the deal late on with L. Barreiro’s goal assisted by F. Aursnes in the 90th minute, making it 0-2 and leaving Ajax frustrated.

Ajax pushed hard for an equaliser after the opener, but Benfica’s defence held firm, weathering the pressure. A yellow card for Ajax’s W. Weghorst in the 69th minute for what looked like a moment of frustration didn’t help their cause, and Benfica’s own yellow to S. Dahl in the 74th added to the scrappy feel. In the end, Ajax’s high possession counted for little as Benfica’s clinical finishes secured a solid away win.

Ajax bossed the possession with 62% compared to Benfica’s 38%, which shows they controlled much of the ball and kept the visitors pinned back for spells, leading to their 10 corners against Benfica’s 4 – a sign of sustained pressure in the attacking third. However, that dominance didn’t translate to goals, highlighting perhaps a lack of cutting edge up front despite all those set-piece opportunities. Both sides picked up one yellow card each, with Ajax using all five substitutions to try and chase the game, while Benfica made just three, suggesting they were more comfortable sitting on their lead.

The stats paint a picture of Ajax trying to overwhelm Benfica but coming up short, as the visitors made the most of their fewer chances. No red cards meant it stayed 11 vs 11, but Ajax’s flurry of changes in the second half – including a triple sub at 74’ – points to desperation to break down a resolute defence. Overall, it’s a tale of territory without treasure for Ajax, while Benfica’s efficiency shone through.

The match’s first big turning point came early at 6’, when Benfica’s S. Dahl scored a normal goal assisted by R. Rios, giving the visitors a dream start and shifting momentum their way despite Ajax’s later possession dominance. Ajax shuffled the pack with a substitution at 60’, bringing on J. Mokio for O. Wijndal to shore up the defence, but it didn’t spark an immediate comeback. Then, W. Weghorst picked up a yellow card at 69’, which seemed to stem from frustration as Ajax piled on pressure without reward.

Benfica’s S. Dahl received a yellow at 74’ shortly after Ajax’s triple substitution – D. Klaassen off for K. Fitz-Jim, R. Bounida off for O. Gloukh, and M. Godts off for K. Dolberg – in a bid to chase an equaliser while Benfica brought on T. Araujo for G. Sudakov on 81' and Ajax’s final change at 83’ saw Y. Regeer come on for R. Moro. The game’s decisive moment arrived at 90’, with L. Barreiro netting assisted by F. Aursnes to make it 0-2, effectively killing off any Ajax hopes. Late Benfica subs followed with V. Pavlidis for Manu at 90+2’ plus L. Barreiro for R. Rego at 90+3’, as they managed the clock.

The game came down to Benfica’s clinical edge, with goals bookending the match, while Ajax’s cards and subs reflected their struggle to convert control into points.

Ajax lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with a solid back four and a holding midfielder to anchor things, allowing their attacking midfielders to push forward and create – which helped them rack up 62% possession and 10 corners as they looked to dominate the midfield battle. In practice, this setup gave them control of the ball but left them vulnerable to Benfica’s quick breaks, as seen in the early goal conceded. The substitutions, starting with J. Mokio on for O. Wijndal at 60’ to tweak the defence, followed by a triple change at 74’ bringing in K. Fitz-Jim, O. Gloukh, and K. Dolberg for more attacking threat, and Y. Regeer for R. Moro at 83’, aimed to add energy and firepower, but ultimately couldn’t break down Benfica’s resolve.

Benfica set up in a 4-2-3-1, featuring a double pivot in midfield for stability and three attacking midfielders to support the lone striker, which allowed them to absorb Ajax’s pressure while hitting on the counter – evident in their early goal and lower 38% possession but efficient use of chances. This structure worked well to maintain a compact shape, frustrating Ajax’s attacks and leading to just four corners conceded despite the possession gap. Their substitutions were fewer and later: T. Araujo on for G. Sudakov at 81’ to freshen the midfield, then Manu for V. Pavlidis at 90+2’ and R. Rego for L. Barreiro at 90+3’ right after the second goal, helping them see out the win and protect their lead without major tweaks to the overall approach.

Samuel Dahl earned Man of the Match honours for Benfica with a standout performance, netting 1 goal in the 6th minute to set the tone early on. Despite picking up a yellow card, he was a constant threat down the flank, and his clinical finish and defensive contributions helped secure the 0-2 victory.

Recent Champions League matches:

• Loss: 0-2 vs Benfica (H)
• Loss: 0-3 vs Galatasaray (H)
• Loss: 1-5 vs Chelsea (A)
• Loss: 0-4 vs Olympique Marseille (A)
• Loss: 0-2 vs Inter (H)

Recent Champions League matches:

• Win: 2-0 vs Ajax (A)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen (H)
• Loss: 0-3 vs Newcastle United (A)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Chelsea (A)
• Loss: 2-3 vs Qarabağ (H)

Ajax will look to bounce back from this 0-2 Champions League defeat when they face FC Groningen on 30 November at 19:00. The frustration of dominating possession without scoring could dent confidence, but their ability to create corners and make attacking subs suggests they have plenty to be possitive about if they sharpen up in front of goal – no new injuries or suspensions from this match to worry about.

Benfica head into their next fixture against Nacional on 29 November at 18:00 buoyed by this efficient 0-2 Champions League win, where they sit on 3 points in 29th. Their clinical finishing despite low possession could boost morale for what might be a similar defensive test, and with no reds or major issues here, they’ll aim to build on that counter-attacking threat against a potentially vulnerable opponent.

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