Marco Silva: Benfica face St. Gallen in Europa League qualifier with six players out

18:38 – Marco Silva previews Benfica's first official match of the season

Benfica faces St. Gallen this Thursday in Switzerland for the first leg of the second qualifying round for the Europa League League Phase.

From 7:00 PM, Marco Silva will speak to journalists in the press room of the Kybunpark Stadium to preview the match that marks the Eagles' debut in official games of the 2026/27 season.

Follow minute by minute everything Benfica's coach says about his official debut for the Reds.

Marco Silva, Benfica coach – João de Matos/Record

18:57 – Marco Silva speaks to BTV

19:02 – "Leandro Barreiro's absence is not the ideal scenario"

On Leandro Barreiro's absence:

"Yes, after the game last Friday, the athlete started to feel unwell. At a time in the season when we don't have the full squad with all the players who were at the World Cup starting to arrive little by little, it's undoubtedly not the ideal scenario. We have at least six players missing, now adding Prestianni to Leandro as well. It's quite a high number, but it's the reality with which we have been preparing this game and the reality we have at the moment. When someone can't play, among the players who have played more in this pre-season, it's always an opportunity for other players to be used, and the opportunity will be there. Whoever starts [from the beginning] will certainly have the ability to seize it."

19:03 – "Switzerland would be one of the best places for us to play"

On the connection between the team and the fans: strong Portuguese presence in Switzerland:

"It is very important for us, it shows the greatness of Benfica. Apart from the Estádio da Luz, and the draw dictated that differently, perhaps one of the best places to play would be here, in Switzerland, for everything the country represents and for the size of Benfica's fanbase, and it will be very important for us, playing away from home, to feel the support of the fans."

19:04 – Marco Silva speaks in the press room

On Benfica being favorite against St. Gallen:

"It's still true that they have nothing to lose, but favoritism is proven on the pitch. On paper, there's no hiding it, and the greatness of Benfica demands it. In football, no one wins before the game starts; favoritism can stay on paper, in the mind of whoever analyzes or thinks about how the game might be. For us, what matters is what we do within the four lines. We want to play a good game and get a good result, knowing that we then have another game at the Estádio da Luz."