RASTA Vechta opened their Basketball Champions League campaign with a composed 98-88 road win over Lisboa e Benfica, taking control of the game in the third quarter and never surrendering it at a lively Pavilhão in Lisbon. The German side's balanced scoring and superior three-point shooting proved the difference in a contest that was tighter than the final margin suggests for the best part of three periods.

Match Overview

Played on 18 September 2026, the Group Phase fixture pitted Portugal's most decorated basketball club against a Vechta team built to run. Both sides came out aggressive, trading baskets early, but it was the visitors who found the cleaner looks from beyond the arc and the free-throw line as the game wore on.

• Final score: Lisboa e Benfica 88 – 98 RASTA Vechta
• Competition: Basketball Champions League, Group Phase
• Venue: Pavilhão Fidelidade, Lisbon
• Quarter scores: 22-26, 24-23, 20-27, 22-22

How the Game Unfolded

Benfica started brightly in front of their home crowd, using quick ball movement to attack the paint and draw early fouls. A 9-2 run midway through the opening period gave the hosts their first real cushion, but Vechta answered immediately with back-to-back triples from the wings to close the quarter 26-22 ahead.

The second period was the tightest stretch of the night. Benfica's guards found rhythm off the pick-and-roll, and a corner three at the buzzer trimmed the deficit to a single possession at the break, 49-46. It felt, at that point, like a game destined for the final two minutes.

Vechta had other ideas. The visitors opened the third quarter with a 12-2 surge, forcing Benfica into two hurried timeouts inside four minutes. The German side's switching defense disrupted the hosts' half-court sets, and their transition attack turned defensive rebounds into easy points at the other end. By the end of the third, the lead had stretched to 76-66.

Benfica pushed back in the fourth, cutting the gap to six with just over four minutes remaining, but a pair of clutch three-pointers snuffed out the rally. From there, Vechta managed the clock intelligently and converted their free throws to seal the ten-point victory.

Tactical Story

The game was decided on the perimeter and at the line. Vechta shot the ball efficiently from deep and generated second-chance opportunities through aggressive offensive rebounding, while Benfica's offense grew increasingly reliant on isolation plays as the game progressed. The Portuguese side's assist-to-turnover ratio dipped sharply in the second half, a direct consequence of Vechta's pressure on the ball.

• Three-point shooting: Vechta converted at a notably higher clip, particularly in the decisive third quarter.
• Rebounding: The visitors' work on the offensive glass produced a steady stream of extra possessions.
• Free throws: Vechta's late-game discipline at the line kept Benfica at arm's length.

Standout Performers

Vechta's backcourt controlled the tempo throughout, with their lead guard repeatedly breaking down Benfica's first line of defense and finding shooters in rhythm. A double-digit scoring contribution from the bench added the depth that ultimately separated the two teams.

For Benfica, the frontcourt was the bright spot. Their interior scoring kept the hosts within touching distance through the middle quarters, and the captain's leadership was evident in the fourth-quarter push. The home side will look back at a handful of empty possessions in the third as the turning point.

Season Impact

A road win in the Basketball Champions League group phase is worth its weight in tiebreakers, and Vechta leave Lisbon with momentum and a valuable head-to-head advantage should these two teams finish level later in the campaign. For Benfica, the result leaves little margin for error in the fixtures ahead, particularly with the return leg in Germany looming on the calendar.

The Portuguese side remain a dangerous opponent at home, and their offensive output of 88 points shows there is plenty to build on. The challenge now is defensive consistency across four quarters, something that will be tested immediately in their next continental outing.

Key Takeaways

• Vechta's third-quarter surge (27-20) was the decisive stretch of the match.
• Benfica kept the game within single digits for long spells but could not close the gap late.
• Perimeter efficiency and free-throw discipline proved the difference in a 98-88 road result.
• Both teams now turn their attention to the next round of Group Phase fixtures.