Benfica beat Club Brugge 2-0 in Belgium to take charge in the Champions League
Benfica took charge of the Champions League round of 16 against Club Brugge after beating Belgium 2-0.
The Eagles survived an early rush and missed a few opportunities before João Mário converted a penalty past Simon Mignolet in the 51st minute.
Brugge failed to close the gap, David Neres made a mistake to make it 2-0 late, Roger Schmidt’s side were well placed to finish the job in Lisbon and move into the quarters.
Benfica goes to the top
Benfica fired the first shot and Nicolás Otamendi headed a corner back into the six-yard box, where Gonçalo Ramos headed straight at Simon Mignolet.
Club Brugge reacted immediately, Tajon Buchanan charging down the left wing before taking the ball too close to Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Noa Lang started running the show, Benfica with their backs to the wall and unable to keep the ball.
The Eagles weathered the storm and soon took over proceedings. Rafa almost caught up from a Bah cross before playing to Fredrik Aursnes, who failed to direct a volley on target.
Alejandro Grimaldo got past Kamal Sowah and his cross caused chaos before Brugge finally conceded over their own bar.
It’s the Rafa show
Rafa got heavily involved and found Otamendi, who was headed in by António Silva, a great chance over the bar. Rafa then switched from provider to opportunity taker, hitting the woodwork’s frame and forcing a regular save from Mignolet minutes later.
Benfica continued to press and had another presentable opportunity to open the scoring. Rafa went long and found João Mário whose cross was headed too high by Ramos.
Otamendi eventually found a way to stop Lang by stepping on his foot, Brugge pooled the ball from Lang’s free-kick but their celebrations were cut short after Denis Odoi was caught offside.
The half-time break didn’t stop the momentum and Ramos couldn’t deflect Grimaldo’s free-kick on target. The goal was not long in coming and scored a penalty in the 50th minute.
brand movement
Ramos lunged for the ball a split second ahead of Jack Hendry and pulled a foul with referee Davide Massa pointing to the spot. Mignolet dived in the right direction and deflected Mário’s shot off the bar and into the net.
The coaches came into play in the 65th minute, Roger Schmidt bringing on David Neres and Gonçalo Guedes for Rafa and Ramos. Scott Parker introduced Casper Nielsen for Odoi.
The game opened up, Grimaldo creating more danger for Chiquinho, who saw his shot deflected wide.
Parker brought in top scorer Ferran Jutglà in the 79th minute, Sowah made way but Benfica kept the Belgians calm.
mistakes punished
Björn Meijer failed to clear a cross, his hard touch allowing Neres to steal the ball, running into the box and sliding it past Mignolet.
Guedes missed the goal but Benfica went into the second leg at the Estádio da Luz on 7 March with a comfortable 2-0 lead.
Benfica too good
Tajon Buchanan scared Benfica early on but his shot in the 5th minute was the only goal for the hosts. Noa Lang was in a class by himself, but he couldn’t prevail the whole game.
The win was deserved, with Nicolás Otamendi instrumental at both ends of the pitch, Alexander Bah and Alejandro Grimaldo coming up regularly in a solid team effort.
The efficiency, versatility and consistency of Fredrik Aursnes and João Mário allows Rafa Silva, David Neres and Gonçalo Guedes to do what they do best.
With a full-strength squad and so many attacking options, Roger Schmidt’s side will be confident of making another triumphant streak to erase the memory of Enzo Fernández’s loss and disappointment at the Taça de Portugal in Braga.
From Matthew Marshall