Does Richard Ríos play today? Where to watch Benfica vs Napoli in the Champions League By Beatriz
4 min read
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Richard Ríos starts as a starter in the midfield of Benfica against Napoli, in Estádio of The 25-year-old Colombian appears as a central piece in José Mourinho’s strategy, anchoring the marking alongside Enzo Barrenechea. With Benfica needing points to advance, Ríos has impressive season numbers and a history of impact in decisive games.
The match pits teams at different times: Benfica with three points in 31st place, Napoli with seven in 22nd. The historic duel favors the Italians, but Ríos represents the hope of tactical balance. Sua confirmed lineup raises expectations for quick transitions and decisive passes.
In the Colombian national team, Ríos played 69 minutes in the 3-0 victory over Austrália in November, preparing the ground for the Copa in 2026. Hoje, he faces Scott McTominay and Eljif Elmas, promising a clash in the center of the field.
- Rios has 5 goals and 7 assists in 18 games for Benfica in the 2025-26 season.
- Average of 2.1 tackles per game, with 88% pass accuracy.
- Prominent in aerial duels, winning 65% of clashes.
Numbers of Richard Ríos reveal consistency in Benfica
Richard Ríos transferred from Palmeiras to Benfica in July 2025 for 15 million euros, quickly integrating into the Mourinho scheme. Na Liga Portuguesa, he played 12 matches, scoring three goals and distributing four assists, with a rate of 1.8 chances created per game.
In his debut at Champions, against Ajax, Ríos completed 45 passes with 92% accuracy, including a dead line pass that resulted in a goal. In the defeat to Chelsea, despite an unfortunate own goal, he recovered 12 balls, showing defensive resilience.
His technique indicators reach 82 at Sofascore, with an emphasis on interceptions and progressions. Essa performance places him as the second most valuable midfielder in Benfica, behind only Fredrik Aursnes.
Against Tondela in August, Ríos participated in all three goals in the 3-0 victory, playing the full 90 minutes and being named man of the match. Esses data reinforces his adaptation to high-level European football.
The peak of Ríos’s career marks the transition to the elite
Richard Ríos’s best moment came in the 2021 Libertadores with Palmeiras, where he played in seven games, contributing two goals and one assist in the victorious campaign. Aos 21 years old, his tireless energy helped in the final against Flamengo, with 2-1 on aggregate, consolidating him as a Colombian revelation.
In 2023, Ríos shone in Copa América, starting in the semifinals and final, with decisive passes for James Rodríguez. Essa exposure raised its market value to 12 million euros, attracting the attention of Europa.
For the Palmeiras, he made 45 appearances, four goals and five assists, winning the 2022 Brasileirão. The move to the Benfica in 2025 represented the definitive leap, with Mourinho praising his “South American intensity”.
On July Supertaça Portuguesa, Ríos lifted his first trophy with Benfica, in the victory over Sporting, scoring a penalty goal in the final minutes. Esse made symbolized the beginning of a golden phase, with regular calls for Colômbia.
Expected impact of Ríos in the game against Napoli
Richard Sua averaging 2.3 tackles per game could limit Italian transitions, especially with Højlund exploring spaces.
In attack, Ríos projects to connect with Sudakov and Aursnes, using his vision for long throws – he completed 18 progressive passes in the last domestic match. Contra a three-in-one defense of Napoli, its infiltration ability can create numerical superiority.
Injuries to the opposing squad, such as Lobotka and Anguissa, open up gaps that Ríos exploits with short dribbles, hitting 72% in pressure situations. Mourinho plans to keep it for 70 minutes, preserving energy for counterattacks.
The Colombian has already faced Italians in the Libertadores, winning the São Paulo in 2022 with a decisive assist. Hoje, his impact can set the pace, with odds of 8.00 for a goal or assist reflecting his offensive potential.
Lineups and broadcast guarantee affordable duel
Benfica lines up Trubin; Dedić, Araújo, Otamendi, Dahl; Ríos, Barrenechea; Aursnes, Barreiro, Sudakov; Ivanović. Napoli responds with Milinković-Savić; Beukema, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Di Lorenzo, McTominay, Elmas, Olivera; Neres, Lang, Højlund.
The broadcast takes place on HBO Max on Brasil at 5pm on Brasília, with options on Prime Video on Europa. Plataformas and Sofascore offer live stats, including heatmaps from Ríos.
Sold out tickets fill the Luz with 65 thousand fans, but global streams democratize access. Verificação of region is essential to avoid locks.
Substitutions such as João Veloso into Benfica and Politano into Napoli add variables, but Ríos remains pivotal until the break.
Recent form of Ríos boosts Benfica optimism
In the last five matches, Ríos has accumulated one goal and two assists, with 90% of passes completed at home. Sua’s domestic form, unbeaten in nine games, contrasts with stumbles in the UCL, where Benfica failed to score in three of five.
For Napoli, Conte seeks balance after 2-0 in Qarabag, but absences like Lukaku expose weaknesses. Ríos, with 65% of duels won, can force errors in Italian possession, an average of 48% away.
Statistics project under 2.5 goals in 70% of both games, but Ríos increases the chances of set pieces – he converted 40% of lateral free kicks. A win puts Benfica closer to the playoffs, with Ríos as the engine.
The fans hope that their intensity, seen in the 3-0 victory over Austrália by Colômbia, translates onto the field. With 24 places up for grabs, every Ríos pass counts.
