It's all set now, as the officiating team for Benfica's upcoming trip to face Rio Ave has been revealed. Joรฃo Gonรงalves has been appointed to referee this pivotal clash in the 26th round of Liga Portugal Betclic, but heโs not exactly a favourite among all fans, especially when it comes to the name Pavlidis.
This particular referee has some history, having disallowed a goal from the Greek forward in a previous encounter, which adds a layer of tension to the match. Heโll be assisted by Joรฃo Bessa Silva and รngelo Carneiro, while Teresa Oliveira steps into the role of fourth officialโa bit of a surprising choice in the arbiter lineup put forth by the Refereeing Council. To add to the intrigue, Tiago Martins will oversee the VAR, a name that surely does not evoke fond memories for Benfica supporters, especially after being heavily critiqued by Rui Costa, Benficaโs President, regarding his handling of past decisions. Pedro Mota will serve as the AVAR.
Itโs worth recalling that it was Joรฃo Gonรงalves who controversially annulled Pavlidisโ goal during Benficaโs clash with Famalicรฃo back in the 18th round of the league at Estรกdio da Luz.
As for Benfica, under the guidance of Bruno Lage, they'll be locking horns with Rio Ave this Sunday, March 16th, at the opponentsโ ground in Vila do Conde. The game, crucial for the 26th round of Liga Portugal Betclic, is set to kick off at 18:00. Currently, Benfica find themselves trailing the league leaders, Sporting, by three points, with the latter sitting comfortably on 59 points, albeit with a game in hand.
Following a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Barcelona, which saw them ousted from the Champions League, Benfica are now solely focused on the Portuguese Cup and the league. Earlier this season, they did snag the League Cup trophy against Sporting, proudly claiming the title of winter champions in Leiria.
Resource: https://glorioso1904.pt/ultima-hora-arbitro-que-ja-tramou-pavlidis-apita-o-rio-ave-benfica