Benfica won 2-0 against Club Brugge in Belgium this Wednesday and thus took a giant step towards the quarter-finals of the Champions League. With a confident performance, Roger Schmidt’s team reached 12 consecutive games without losing in the Champions League (including play-offs), equaling FC Porto, who had the same number of games without defeats in the golden season of 2003/04 .
Luz’s club is thus well on its way to the draw, but will have to seal the passage to the “quarters” on March 7 in Lisbon. If he continues, in addition to sporting prestige, he will receive a prize of €10.6 million and reach the highest ever turnover in the club’s history in the Champions League – €71.6 million -, surpassing last season’s €64.903 million. exceeds. when he also reached the quarterfinals.
Roger Schmidt returned to the original formula and fielded Rafa and Gonçalo Ramos in the eleven, replacing David Neres and Gonçalo Guedes, starters in the last three games due to the physical problems of the two Portuguese internationals. At Club Brugge, Ukrainian striker Yaremchuk, who represented Benfica last season, started on the bench.
The opponent was unknown. After a great group stage, where they beat FC Porto 4-0 in Dragão (they then lost with the same result in Belgium) and B. Leverkusen and At. Madrid, had gone 10 consecutive games without a win. Something that Schmidt downplayed when the game was released, since Champions is a separate league.
A dangerous header from Goncalo Ramos at 3″ seemed to set the tone for Benfica’s dominance. But down to 20″, the Eagles were too lenient. With high lines and with clear midfield dominance, the Belgians made it difficult for Benfica to build up and started good moves in attack. At 5″, Vlachodimos had to impose himself on Buchanan and at 11″ Noah’s shot went over.
Benfica’s midfield finally hit the mark, the team moved up and the missed opportunities began. Aursnes shot wide (25″), shortly after, in the same minute, a clever action by Grimaldo almost resulted in an own goal and António Silva headed the ball dangerously over the top. At 30″, it was Rafa’s turn to panic to hit the Belgian area with a shot on the post and immediately afterwards Ramos headed over. Bruges scored on the last bid before the break, but the goal was disallowed for offside by Odoi. The first half ended with Benfica having more possession (56%/44%) and more shots on target (8/2).
Mark open and close
The second half started with a nice chance for Benfica, but Ramos missed it incredibly after a cross from Grimaldo. At 51″, the eagles took the lead after a penalty from João Mário, punishing a foul by Hendry on Gonçalo Ramos. It was the Benfica midfielder’s fifth goal in this edition of the Champions League and his 17th this season.
Schmidt changed the team in the 65th minute and returned to the formula of the last three games, adding Gonçalo Guedes and David Neres to replace Ramos and Rafa, in an attempt to refresh the team, at a time when Bruges had to concede spaces and Benfica were able to take advantage of quick counter-attacks from the two players who had come in.
Benfica played it safe, without taking any major risks, against an opponent who also did little for his life, because Vlachodimos was almost a mere spectator in the second half. And at 86″, João Mário almost scored twice, but shot wide after a good move from Neres.
The Brazilian would eventually score Benfica’s second (and saw a third annulled), at 88″, taking advantage of a massive error by the Belgian defense. A goal that leaves the eagles with one foot in the quarter-finals and on the verge of a historic fit.
Source: DN
