FC St. Gallen and S.L. Benfica faced off Thursday in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round [1].
The match represents a critical early step in the European campaign for both clubs. St. Gallen sought to leverage their home-field advantage to secure a lead, while Benfica aimed for a result that would ease their path toward the tournament's main stages [3].
The contest took place July 23, 2026 [1], with the kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. CEST [1]. The match was held in St. Gallen, Switzerland [2].
There are conflicting reports regarding the exact venue of the match. Some records identify the stadium as Kybunpark [1, 2], while other descriptions list the location as Berit Sitterstadion [3].
As this was the first leg of the qualifying tie, the result sets the stage for the return match. Benfica enters the series as a team seeking a stable foundation to advance, while the Swiss side looks to disrupt the Portuguese favorites on their own soil [3].
“St. Gallen aim to capitalize on home advantage”
This qualifying match is part of the high-stakes knockout phase of the UEFA Europa League, where a single poor result in the first leg can jeopardize a club's entire season. For a club like Benfica, advancing is a baseline expectation, whereas for St. Gallen, a strong performance against a larger European power provides significant financial and reputational gains.
