Benfica overcame a stubborn Alverca side 2-1 away from home in the Portuguese Primera Liga. The match result maintained Benfica's strong start to the season, though they were made to work hard for the three points by a determined newly-promoted team. Against the run of play, Alverca took a shock lead in the first half, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to score from inside the box. Benfica responded with characteristic composure and were level before the break, scoring from a penalty after a handball was awarded following a VAR review. The second half saw Benfica dominate possession, and they found the winner with about twenty minutes remaining, a powerful header from a corner that gave the Alverca goalkeeper no chance. Alverca fought bravely but could not find an equalizer against the league giants. The win kept Benfica at the top end of the table, while Alverca earned respect for their performance in defeat. The Benfica coach acknowledged the difficulty of the fixture and was pleased with his team's mentality.