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

Dive into Coral’s post-match review of Benfica 2-0 Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday, 10 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Benfica beat Napoli 2-0 in a solid home performance. The hosts took the lead in the 20th minute when Richard Ríos found the net, assisted by Franjo Ivanović, giving them a boost after a run of recent losses including defeats to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Newcastle United and Chelsea. Napoli, who had mixed form with a win over Qarabağ but a heavy loss to PSV, pushed for an equaliser but couldn’t break through before half-time.

The second half started with Benfica extending their advantage in the 49th minute, as Leandro Barreiro scored with an assist from Richard Ríos, putting the game out of reach. Napoli made changes at the break, bringing on Leonardo Spinazzola and Matteo Politano, but despite dominating possession, they lacked the cutting edge. Benfica, building on back-to-back wins including against Ajax, managed the game well with late substitutions to see out a clean sheet and continue their climb.

Napoli edged possession with 60% compared to Benfica’s 40%, suggesting they controlled the ball more but couldn’t turn it into goals, while Benfica looked efficient on the counter. The visitors also led in corners at 6-2, showing they created more set-piece chances, yet both sides matched each other with 33 successful dribbles each, pointing to an even battle in individual skill. Benfica picked up just one yellow card against Napoli’s two, with no reds on either side, and the hosts used four substitutions while Napoli made five, including early changes at half-time that tried to shift momentum without success.

Assists went Benfica’s way with one recorded, underlining their clinical edge in key moments, and there were no penalties or injury-time goals to swing the result late on.

The game’s first big moment came in the 20th minute when Richard Ríos scored for Benfica, set up by Franjo Ivanović, breaking the deadlock and shifting the balance. Early in the second half, Leandro Barreiro doubled the lead in the 49th minute thanks to an assist from Richard Ríos, making it tough for Napoli to recover. Napoli’s yellow cards for Noa Lang and Antonio Vergara, plus Benfica’s Amar Dedić booking, added tension, but the hosts’ late substitutions like Vangelis Pavlidis for Franjo Ivanović and António Silva for Georgiy Sudakov in the 76th minute helped them hold firm.

Napoli tried to respond with half-time switches, as Leonardo Spinazzola replaced Mathías Olivera and Matteo Politano came on for Sam Beukema, followed by more changes like Juan Jesus for Alessandro Buongiorno in the 59th, but they couldn’t find a way back.

Benfica lined up in a 4-2-3-1 shape, with Richard Ríos and Leandro Barreiro forming a strong midfield partnership that delivered both goals, while Franjo Ivanović provided creativity before being replaced by Vangelis Pavlidis late on. Georgiy Sudakov contributed in the attacking third until António Silva came on, and Fredrik Aursnes held things together before Tiago Freitas took over in stoppage time. Amar Dedić’s defensive work was key, though he picked up a yellow card.

Napoli set up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, relying on players like Noa Lang in attack until he was subbed off for Lorenzo Lucca and earned a yellow card earlier. Mathías Olivera and Sam Beukema started but made way at half-time for Leonardo Spinazzola and Matteo Politano respectively, aiming to add width, while Alessandro Buongiorno was replaced by Juan Jesus around the hour mark. Eljif Elmas featured before Antonio Vergara came on and picked up a late booking.

Coral’s Man of the Match goes to Richard Ríos for his standout display, netting one goal in the 20th minute and providing the assist for Leandro Barreiro’s strike early in the second half. He also delivered one key pass without creating big chances, but his all-round contribution was crucial in driving Benfica’s attack and securing the clean-sheet win. Ríos was involved from the start and stayed on throughout, making him the heartbeat of the team.

Recent Champions League matches:

• Win: 2-0 vs Napoli (H)
• 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)

Recent Champions League matches:

• Loss: 0-2 vs Benfica (A)
• Win: 2-0 vs Qarabağ (H)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Eintracht Frankfurt (H)
• Loss: 2-6 vs PSV (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Sporting CP (H)

Benfica have just beaten Napoli 2-0, a result that builds on their recent wins over Ajax and now this one, after a tougher spell with losses to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Newcastle United and Chelsea. Sitting 25th on 6 points, they’ll look to keep the momentum going in their next match against Moreirense on 2025-12-14 at 18:00.

Napoli have just lost 2-0 to Benfica, adding to a patchy run that includes a heavy defeat to PSV and a draw with Eintracht Frankfurt, though they had wins over Qarabağ and Sporting CP. Currently 23rd on 7 points, they’ll aim to bounce back in their next fixture against Udinese on 2025-12-14 at 14:00.

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