A matter of attitude. That’s what made the difference this Friday in the derby between Benfica and FC Porto on matchday 27 in a swirling Estádio da Luz, unlike the home side who, despite taking an early lead, were eventually beaten by the defending champions (1 – 2). Seven points now separate the two teams at the top of the Portuguese league, after a game won by the team that wanted to win from the first minute and managed every moment of the game by applying the first home defeat of the season on the great rival.
On a hot afternoon in Lisbon and as Luz filled up as expected, Roger Schmidt did not change the structure he was using. With Florentino’s return to the starting midfield line-up – having been spared at the start in Vila do Conde to avoid risking a yellow fifth place that would keep him away from the derby – the only doubts related to the option for the three men in support of Gonçalo Ramos. Unsurprisingly, it fell to Brazil’s Neres to start on the bench, with Aursnes joining Rafa and João Mário in the role.
On the other hand, there were more doubts due to the injury wave in the blue and white team. But, as Sérgio Conceição said in the preview, Diogo Costa returned to goal and Pepe formed a duo with Iván Marcano in the central defense zone – João Mário, Zaidu and Evanilson had to sit on the bench. Manafá and Wendell were the full-backs with Pepê coming onto the pitch and Grujic in midfield alongside Uribe. At the front, the job was done by Taremi.
Despite the unfavorable atmosphere in a stadium where they have been almost always cheerful in recent years, FC Porto started the game better, with two approaches to Vlachodimos’ goal, albeit without much danger. Very urgent, the Northerners threatened again after four minutes, in a long shot that left Taremi alone with António Silva in front of him: the Iranian ducked to look for an angle for the shot, but the central defender stretched and managed to deflect the shot to cut (4″).
However, this Benfica is a team in a state of grace where everything seems to be going well. On the first approach to the opponent’s goal, Gonçalo Ramos got up and knocked Pepe high after a cross from Bah. The ball came out like a bullet, hit the crossbar and hit the back of Diogo Costa who was still in the air, then he entered the goal much to the delight of the crowd – it was the first time a goalkeeper had scored an own goal in the derby.
Ten minutes and all was well for the League leaders who would suffer a setback at the age of 25, with Bah injured (Gilberto came in) after a tackle from Uribe, who was booked at a time when the match was over. finished. somewhat quarrelsome.
The stopper calmed nerves on the field. FC Porto continued more intensely and with more possession against a Benfica without great moods, playing pragmatically waiting for the opponent to wear out and make a mistake. And so the 2-0 came close after a bad pass from Uribe. Gonçalo Ramos got ready to aim for goal, but like António Silva before, Pepe dodged the shot at the last minute (38″).
And the just punishment comes
The final minutes of the first half confirmed what had been seen so far, with the difference being that the Dragons managed to extend their ability to press and play into the final third. In the last 11 minutes (including six stoppage times), Sérgio Conceição’s team kicked the ball three times into Vlachodimos’ goal, though only one counted: that from Uribe’s foot, after Pepê blocked Manafá’s cross with his chest. (45″ Earlier, a foul by Taremi on the red goalkeeper dropping the ball to Manafá and later a six-centimeter offside shot by Galeno kept the visitors from gaining the advantage at half-time.
The second half started in much the same way, although Benfica came earlier. And this time without warning, FC Porto took the lead: after Galeno won a duel in the air, Otamendi could not avert the danger under pressure from Otávio and the ball was available to Taremi: the Iranian kicked low and close to the goal outside the penalty area left post from Vlachodimos, who failed to reach the ball much to the delight of the visiting phalanx (54″).
With the dragons in the lead role, the coordinates of the game have changed. The two technicians started to move – Schmidt launched Neres, Conceição brought in his João Mário (who didn’t last fifteen minutes, was injured again after a dangerous shot in the 62nd minute), forcing Pepê to withdraw to lateral) and Eustáquio, leaving the structure of the team changed a bit, which lowered the block. Still, he was very close to score the third goal, in a transition that saw Taremi beat Grimaldo, self-isolate but ultimately squander a 3×1 situation with a mispass.
In the closing minutes, pressure was exerted by Benfica, who pumped many balls into an area where Musa was already standing, but without creating a goal-rich situation. The three points were even for FC Porto, which will nevertheless barely be able to absorb a deficit of seven, despite the fact that Benfica still has to compete against Sporting and Sp. Braga.
SEE THE GOALS HERE
Goncalo Ramos, 1-0
Uribe, 1-1
Taremi, 1-2
Source: DN
