The Royals will take on Portuguese powerhouse Benfica in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the end of their week-long stay at St George’s Park next month.
Paul Ince’s side will host the team who finished third in the top tier in Portugal last season on Saturday 9 July with kick-off set for 4pm.
Please note, no supporters will be able to attend this fixture which takes place at the end of our training camp, however the club’s website and social media channels will endeavour to keep Royals fans up to date with what will be one of the first pre-season friendlies in our summer’s calendar.
This will be one of Benfica’s first games under the management of German boss Roger Schmidt who was appointed in May 2022.
Amongst their ranks, the Primeira Liga side boasted former Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertongen, ex-Manchester City centre-half Nicolás Otamendi and former QPR forward Adel Taarabt last season – as well as Brazil international striker Everton and Ukraine striker Roman Yaremchuk.
Recent connections between Benfica and Reading include winger Ola John, who joined the RG2 ranks on loan from the Lisbon giants in 2015 and midfielder Alfa Semedo who was on the Royals’ books as a loanee in 2020-21.
President of Benfica, Rui Costa, twice played against Ince during their midfield playing stints in Serie A – Ince’s Inter Milan drawing 1-1 with Fiorentina in November 1995 before a goalless affair between the same two sides in April 1997.
