The Portuguese team triumphed at home against Bruges. (AFP)
Benfica took a big step towards the round of the best eight of the Champions League by winning 2-0 in their visit to Bruges in the first leg of the round of 16 played this Wednesday in Belgium.
joao mario of penal (minute 51) and David Neres (88 ‘) marked for the current leader of the Portuguese championship, deprived of its Argentine world champion Enzo Fernández, signed by Chelsea in the recent market.
The return match will be played in Lisbon on Tuesday, March 7, where everything is served in favor of the Eagles to confirm the classification, except for an unexpected catastrophe.
The Portuguese formation, which had surpassed the psg Yet the Juventus in the group stage, he confirmed his status as favorite against the Cinderella of the round of 16.
In difficulties in his championship, in which he is fourth, 20 points behind the leader Ghent, the witches started very strong this Wednesday, under the impulse of the Dutchman noah lang from the point of his attack.
For the Belgians, who prevailed in the group stage against Portoto the Bayer Leverkusen and to Atletico Madridthey could not impose their enthusiasm in the face of the greater technical quality of the people from Lisbon.
Landed in Bruges in January to replace Carl Hoefkens, the English coach scott parker he did not find a way to disturb the leisurely game of the visitors.
GOAL FOR BENFICA: Joao Mario hit the penalty spot and made it 1-0 against Bruges in the first leg of the round of 16 #Champions.
? Look at the #UCL by #StarPlusLA pic.twitter.com/TNpjDK8bvw
– SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) February 15, 2023
Without a true 9 in his eleven, the former Fulham manager allowed the Benfica defense to live a placid night.
Facing a Portuguese team led by roger schmidt who tries to adapt to the departure of Enzo, signed by Chelsea at the end of January for 121 million euros (129 million dollars).
Goal by David Neres
The Eagles relied on the good form of another world champion, the center back Nicholas Otamendiwho also contributed in attack.
After half an hour of play, Rafa Silva was close to making it 1-0, but his volley skimmed the wood of the goal defended by Simon Mignolet.
SENTENCED EVERYTHING: David Neres took advantage of a defensive error by Bruges and sealed the 2-0 score for Benfica in the #Champions.
? Look at the #UCL by #StarPlusLA pic.twitter.com/zcopSZINzA
– SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) February 15, 2023
Then it was the Portuguese international Goncalo Ramos the one that caused cold sweats in the 27,000 Belgian fans. The striker, author of a spectacular hat-trick in the World Cup round of 16 against Switzerland (6-1), came close to scoring at 36′.
Finally the Portuguese superiority found its prize with a penal converted by the midfielder joao mario after a foul by Jack Hendry on Ramos.
And two minutes from the end it was the Brazilian striker David Neres the one who took advantage of a Bjorn Meijer mistake that leaves the classification on a tray for the historic Portuguese club.
