This Wednesday, Benfica visits the Israelis of Maccabi Haifa in a scoring match for the last day of Group H of the Champions League, whose leadership is still open. Despite already having a place in the round of 16, the eagles will still decide, with PSG, who comes first and second.
Both teams have 11 points and the one with the best result wins the group. If both win or draw, the decision is made on goal difference and, at this point, the French go ahead: they have a positive balance of eight, against Benfica’s four. On the other hand, the Israelis also go into the game with one goal: to guarantee third place in the group and a presence in the Europa League. They start on equal terms with Juventus.
Playing in yellow – a rare sight this season -, Benfica arrived in Israel without Enzo Fernández, punished for accumulating yellow cards, and with a midfield duo made up of Aursnes and Florentino. And there the novelties really ended, since there in front and behind were the usual ones.
Among them, António Silva and Otamendi, who after four minutes were frowned upon on the same play. The first failed to approach an opponent, the second gave a boost and ended up on the ground while watching Dean David miss the goal, isolated, from very close.
The answer was immediate. Aursnes, increasingly off the track, appeared in the large Israeli area collapsed on the left and took a low and delayed cross to Gonçalo Ramos. The Portuguese striker, with the first and with his left foot, hit the post.
Maccabi Haifa eleven: Cohen, Goldberg, Mohamed, Lavi, Pierrot, Chery, Abu Fani, David, Meir, Cornud and Seck
Eleven from Benfica: Vlachodimos, Bah, Otamendi, António Silva, Grimaldo, Florentino, Aursnes, João Mário, Neres, Rafa and Gonçalo Ramos
The game is refereed by Anthony Taylor, assisted by Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn. In the VAR is Stuart Attwell.
Substitutes for Maccabi Haifa:
Substitutes for Benfica:
Source: TSF
