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Benfica sees qualification for the quarter-finals getting closer after winning (0-2) on the ground of Club Brugge, Wednesday evening in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League.
Benfica got the better of Club Brugge’s enthusiasm to take an option on the quarter-finals of the Champions League by winning (0-2), Wednesday February 15, in the Venice of the North in the round of 16 first leg, thanks to goals from Joao Mario and David Neres in the second period.
The Portuguese team, which had beaten PSG and Juventus Turin during the group stage, justified its status as favorite against the little thumb of the competition at this stage of the season.
In difficulty in the league, where they only occupy fourth position, twenty lengths behind leader Genk, the people of Bruges had nevertheless decided to put on their gala outfit to pack the match from the start, under the impetus of the international Dutch Noa Lang at the forefront of the attack.
But the Blauw en Zwart, who had won in the group stage against FC Porto, Bayer Leverkusen and Atletico Madrid, could only oppose their combativeness to the greatest technical mastery of the Lisbon people.
Landed in Bruges in January to replace Carl Hoefkens, English coach Scott Parker did not find the tactical parade to disrupt the visitors’ calm game. By not fielding any real No. 9, the former coach of Fulham and Bournemouth has placed the Portuguese defense in an armchair.
Efficient Portuguese mechanics rewarded twice
Opposite, the interest was to see how Roger Schmidt’s men would behave for their first continental outing since the departure of star striker Enzo Fernandez, transferred at the end of January to Chelsea against 121 million euros.
After letting the initial Belgian storm pass, the Eagles put their opponents under pressure thanks in particular to the Argentinian defender Nicolas Otamendi, who was very offensive.
At the half-hour, Rafa Silva narrowly missed opening the scoring when his recovery hit the frame of the goal defended by Simon Mignolet. Moments later, it was Gonzalo Ramos who gave the 27,000 Belgian supporters a cold sweat. But the Portuguese international, author of a resounding hat-trick in the World Cup against Switzerland (6-1), just missed the target (36th).
Only a goal from Denis Odoi canceled for offside (45th) barely disturbed the Portuguese mechanics which got back in motion after the break, quickly rewarded by a converted penalty from Joao Mario (51st) following a fault by Jack Hendry on Ramos.
And two minutes from time, the Brazilian David Neres, who came on during the second half, took advantage of a blunder from Bjorn Meijer to go alone to double the lead (88th).
With AFP