Benfica, leader of the I Liga de Fútbol, receives SC Braga, third place, in a match of the 31st round with an almost decisive character for the attribution of the title, in which FC Porto is also interested.
Roger Schmidt decided to leave Florentino on the bench, launching Chiquinho and João Neves in midfield. On the right side of the defense, Aursnes takes over again. In Braga, Al Musrati did not count, because he was injured. Artur Jorge chose Racic to take charge.
Benfica seemed to start the game better, having more time in possession of the ball and reaching Braga’s area, but without creating any danger.
The first dangerous move came in the 15th minute. Grimaldo isolated Gonçalo Ramos, the striker passed Matheus and, from a tight angle, tried to cross João Mário, but Borja anticipated and cut back.
In the following minutes, Benfica took a more serious approach to Matheus’ goal, with emphasis on the defense of the Braga goalkeeper against David Neres’s shot.
After half an hour into the game, SC Braga began to grow. Although he could not create danger, he managed to have the ball for a few minutes, something that had not yet happened.
The game began in the last minutes of the first half, with both teams entering the rival area, but unable to score.
The first part ended with a controversial play. Ricardo Horta fell into the area after a tackle with Rafa, but the referee considered that the SC Braga player faked the foul and showed him a yellow card.
After the break, Artur Jorge made a change. Borja stayed in the dressing room, apparently due to physical limitations, and Nuno Sequeira joined the left back of the defence.
The match was increasingly divided, with SC Braga managing to jump on the counterattack more than once. However, the last pass was failing.
And speaking of missing, Benfica managed to release Grimaldo on the left, the winger crossed low for Gonçalo Ramos. The Portuguese international, alone and with Matheus ahead, shot at the post.
Benfica XI: Vlachodimos, Aursnes, António Silva, Otamendi, Grimaldo, João Neves, Chiquinho, Neres, João Mário, Rafa and Gonçalo Ramos.
SC Braga eleven: Matheus, Victor Gomez, Tormena, Niakaté, Borja, Racic, André Horta, Bruma, Iuri Medeiros, Ricardo Horta and Abel Ruiz.
Substitutes for Benfica: Samuel Soares, Gilberto, Lucas Veríssimo, Guedes, Ristic, Musa, Florentino, Cher Ndour and Morato.
SC Braga substitutes: Tiago Sá, Serdar, Sequeira, Alvaro Djaló, Paulo Oliveira, Joe Mendes, Pizzi, Banza and Gorby.
Source: TSF
