The farewell to the Champions League is not final, because mathematically Benfica still has options. But it is difficult to believe in miracles, and that is why next Tuesday’s defeat (0-1) in Luz against Real Sociedad, with a very poor performance, puts the Eagles in serious difficulties for third place in group D and go to the Europa League. .
In fact, it is a Champions League to forget (zero points and no goals), increasingly with similarities to its worst ever performance in 2017/18, when the team ended the group stage with six defeats in as many games against Manchester. United, Basel and CSKA Moscow.
It was a Benfica without imagination in midfield, without attacking solutions, against an organized Real Sociedad that dominated almost the entire match, driven mainly by the irreverence of the Japanese Kubo.
Of the doubtful players, only Bah was a starter. Di María dropped out due to an injury and Kökçü started on the bench. Otherwise, Benfica’s eleven were as expected, with Jurásek as left defender, Aursnes in midfield and Musa the reference in attack.
Real Sociedad, even with a comfortable position in Group D, did not shy away from Luz (on the contrary!), leaving a first warning in the 7th minute with Kubo’s shot into the side nets. shot was deflected by an opponent, he scored in the 12th minute. But the move was canceled due to Musa’s offside, in a move where Rafa’s play stood out.
Until half time, there was little to see of the Luz club, which always had many difficulties. And therefore the scoring opportunities were more around Turbin’s goal. At 29″ the Basques imitated the eagles and scored, but Brais Méndez was offside. And shortly afterwards, after Aursnes lost the ball, Kubo (a loose devil on the right side of the attack) shot again on the side of the goal post, just before half time imitated by Barrenetxea.
The first half ended with more possession for the Spaniards (60%/40%), who also had more attempts on goal (7/5), against a very soft Benfica who whistled from the dressing room to the dressing room.
Roger Schmidt realized he had to change something. And he launched Kökçü and Arthur Cabral for the second half, giving up João Mário and Musa and starting to play 4X3X3. But little or nothing has changed. Real Sociedad had more and more possession of the ball and came very close to opening the score in the 52nd minute, thanks to Turbin’s good save from Zubimendi’s shot.
Benfica’s ineffectiveness and poor play made it clear that the Basques could score at any time. And that’s what happened, to Brais Méndez, at the age of 63. And Kubo did not increase the lead, because the ball hit the post.
The changes made by Schmidt were of no use. The match ended with another defeat and with the team unable to score goals, still in last place in Group D and almost certainly mortgaged with the millions of the Champions League as it would be historic for a team with three defeats in the first three games to salvage. yourself. as.
Source: DN
