Benfica defeated Marítimo on their visit to Madeira Island, in a match from the fifth round of the Primeira Liga. The Eagles' victory was marked by strong protests from coach Marco Silva at the end of the 90 minutes.
Marco Silva openly criticized the quality of the pitch at Marítimo's Stadium, classifying it as "horrible" and stating that it is "almost impossible to play" under those conditions. The coach praised the stadium atmosphere and the support for the home team, but considered that the state of the surface does not allow for proper football to be played.
The Benfica coach extended his criticism to the institutions responsible for national football, referring to the League and the Federation. Marco Silva warned that this situation is not good for Portuguese football and prevents the growth of the national sport to another level.
Despite the obstacles presented by the playing surface, Marco Silva highlighted his team's strong start in the match, which managed to score and control the game, building a comfortable victory.
