Benfica's away masterclass sinks AGF in Europa League playoff

Benfica made the perfect start at the Aarhus stadium when Gianluca Prestianni broke the deadlock in the 19th minute. AGF struggled to find rhythm in the opening stages, with Mads Camara picking up a yellow card for a rash challenge as the hosts failed to settle into their flow.

The away side doubled their advantage through Rafael Silva's clinical finish in the 56th minute, leaving AGF with a mountain to climb. Rasmus Carstensen sparked a brief comeback when he pulled one back just four minutes later, cutting Benfica's lead to a single goal and briefly threatening a revival.

However, Prestianni extinguished any hope of a genuine comeback when he struck again on 61 minutes to restore Benfica's two-goal cushion. Carstensen was cautioned for dissent moments before the interval, reflecting AGF's frustration at their inability to mount a sustained challenge. Benfica's control never wavered. They defended expertly in the closing stages despite AGF's desperate attempts to reduce the deficit further, with three minutes of stoppage time doing little to change the outcome. The Portuguese side's clinical finishing and defensive discipline earned them a comprehensive 1-3 away victory.