Vitória SC vs Benfica: Championship Stage – Game 1

O Benfica knew how to react to a strong entry from Vitória SC at the Pavilhão Desportivo Unit Vimaranense to win, this Saturday, February 7th, the game of the 18th round of the 1st phase of the National Championship by 1-3.

Already preview of the match, Tiago Violas had warned of the notable evolution of the Guimarães team in the season, and the hosts’ performance in the 1.º set confirmed the distributor’s words.

Strong in defense and aggressive in service, Vitória SC opened a 3-point lead (15-12) and forced Marcel Matz asking for the 1st timeoutwhere he took advantage of launch Francisco Pombeiro, Felipe Banderó and Japa at the meeting. However, a succession of errors in the Eagles’ attack led to a home victory for 25-21.

Determined to change the course of the game, the Benfica players entered the 2.º set com another assertiveness in defining plays. To the 6-12the Victorian coach even asked for a timeout to try to stop the red avalanche, but to no avail: superior at all times of the gamethe eagles took off for a clear victory 14-25.

O balance returned to 3rd partial. After a good start from Benfica, Vitória SC managed to turn the result around 17-15 and forced new stoppage of the game by Marcel Matz. Once the strategy has been fine-tuned, eagles responded with claw and heart to close the set in 22-25.

O 4.º set started with a long rally where the greater incarnate determination culminated in 0-1. The tone was set for a safe and quality displayin which the aggressiveness in the service joined one irreproachable positioning on the network. Without solutions to place their attacks, Vitória SC was easy prey for the Benfica counterattackswhich closed the 1-3 common new triumph by 14-25.

Sentenced to 16th victory in 18 days, the Benfica walk in the 1st phase of the National Championship will have new chapter in the Azores at 16h00 (Mainland Portugal time) of the next Saturday, February 14thwith a visit to CA Madalena.

DECLARATIONS

Marcel Matz (Benfica coach): “In the 1st set we were unable to have any kind of effect on Vitória SC’s reception line, they played well, everyone worked well in attack. From the 2nd set onwards, our service started to have a greater imbalance and, from then on, it helped us complicate the opponent’s attacking system. I’m happy for the victory. Our objective is to win the games we have ahead of us. We left the European competition last week, we will have more time to work, our working model will change a little to try to have some kind of gain for the play-offs. This week was a little different, with more training overload, trying to get some return, reaping rewards ahead. But the objective is to win the next games, for sure.”