Benevento edged out Vis Pesaro 2-1 in an entertaining international club friendly at the Stadio Tonino Benelli on 31 July 2026, with the Serie C visitors showcasing sharp finishing in a match that served as a useful late-summer test for both squads.

With pre-season preparations moving into their final phase, both head coaches used the fixture to give extended minutes to senior players and emerging talents alike. The match provided a competitive workout under warm evening conditions, and while the result matters little in the grand scheme of the season, the performance levels offered plenty of talking points.

Match Overview

Vis Pesaro, competing in Italy's third tier, started brightly and looked comfortable in possession during the opening exchanges. Their high press disrupted Benevento's build-up play, and the home side deservedly took the lead midway through the first half after a well-worked move down the left flank. However, Benevento responded with composure, equalising before the interval through a clinical finish from inside the box.

The second half saw Benevento raise their intensity and control the tempo more effectively. They found the winning goal early in the period, capitalising on a defensive lapse from Vis Pesaro to slot home from close range. From there, the visitors managed the game well, limiting chances and showing the kind of organisation that will serve them well in competitive action.

Key Moments

• Vis Pesaro's opening goal: A determined run down the left created space for a low cross, turned in at the near post to give the home side a deserved advantage.
• Benevento's equaliser: A well-timed run into the box was rewarded with a precise finish, restoring parity just before half-time.
• Winning goal: Benevento punished a loose pass in midfield and struck decisively on the counter-attack to make it 2-1.

Tactical Story

Vis Pesaro’s early pressing game caused problems, but their inability to sustain the intensity after the break allowed Benevento to dominate midfield. The visitors shifted to a more direct approach in the second half, targeting the space behind the home defence with increasing success. Benevento's backline also deserves credit, staying compact and reducing Vis Pesaro's clear-cut opportunities after the equaliser.

What It Means

For Vis Pesaro, the defeat offers a valuable learning experience ahead of the new Serie C campaign. They showed promise in patches but will need to improve their game management when facing sides with higher technical quality. Benevento, meanwhile, will take confidence from a solid all-round display, particularly the way they responded to conceding first and controlled the closing stages.

Friendly results should always be treated with caution, but this was an encouraging sign for Benevento and a useful benchmark for Vis Pesaro as both clubs fine-tune their squads ahead of the competitive season.