Jose Mourinho marked his return to Benfica with a commanding 3-0 victory over AVS on Saturday.
Heorhiy Sudakov broke the deadlock just before halftime, while Vangelis Pavlidis doubled the lead from the penalty spot shortly after the restart. Franjo Ivanovic sealed the win late on as Benfica climbed to second in the league, five points adrift of leaders Porto with a game in hand.
The 62-year-old, who last managed Benfica 25 years ago, showed his trademark passion on the sidelines, celebrating the third goal with a fist pump and a cone-kick.
Mourinho, sacked by Fenerbahce in August, replaced Bruno Lage after the Eagles’ shock Champions League exit to Qarabag earlier this week.
With Porto and his former side Chelsea’s parent club Sporting Lisbon looming in the next fortnight, Mourinho’s new tenure will soon face stern tests. Reflecting on his return during his unveiling, the Portuguese tactician said he is now “more mature” and “altruistic” than during his first spell, which lasted just 11 matches.
What you should know
Jose Mourinho has begun his second stint at Benfica on a strong note, overseeing a 3-0 win at AVS.
The Portuguese manager, returning after 25 years, takes charge at a crucial point as Benfica aim to challenge Porto in the title race and recover from their Champions League setback.
