Benfica v Club Brugge Live Commentary & Result, 07/03/2023, UEFA Champions League

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Benfica seek a sixth successive victory when they return to Primeira Liga action away at Maritimo on Sunday. On the same day, Brugge look to respond at home to Standard Liege in the Belgian Pro League.

Benfica soar through to the Champions League quarter-finals after sealing a dominant 7-1 aggregate victory over Club Brugge. Goncalo Ramos scored twice for the inspired hosts, while Rafa, Joao Mario and David Neres were also on target during a commanding performance. It was a difficult day for the visitors, although they did grab a consolation courtesy of Bjorn Meijer's late strike.

90' + 2' FULL-TIME: BENFICA 5-1 CLUB BRUGGE (7-1 AGG)

90' There will be just a single additional minute at the end of this game.

Lucas Veríssimo

António Silva

88' Benfica immediately make a change with Verissimo replacing Silva.

T. Buchanan

Assist

87' Buchanan showed great awareness to pick out Meijer, who denied Benfica a clean sheet in spectacular fashion.

B. Meijer

Goal

87' MEIJER! WHAT A STRIKE! 5-1. A consolation for Brugge, but a delightful one of that. Following a neat move, Meijer receives the ball from Buchanan, and unleashes an unstoppable left-footed drive into the top corner. The visitors have something to celebrate at the very least.

86' This will be the first time in over 50 years that Benfica have reached successive quarter-finals in Europe's premier club competition. They will not just want to settle for that, though.

84' Rafa looks for his second goal, but cannot generate enough bend on his 20-yard effort that goes well wide of the target.

83' Benfica have enjoyed two-thirds of the possession in this second half, and they have certainly made the most of their superiority.

81' We are into the final 10 minutes at Estadio da Luz, where Benfica are continuing to press for even more goals. You must applaud their persistence in striving for more, even in their hugely favourable position.

79' There will be tougher tests to come, but Benfica will march into the Champions League quarter-finals full of confidence. The high-flying Eagles will do so on a four-match winning streak in the competition, and teams will want to avoid them in the draw.

João Neves

Assist

77' Neves laid the ball into the path of Neres, who was clinical inside the box.

David Neres

Goal

77' NERES!!! 5-0 BENFICA! Neres gets in on the act following another lovely move by the hosts. Neat one-touch football culminates in Neves teeing up Neres, who drills the ball into the far corner with his left foot. After the goal was initially ruled out for offside, it is eventually allowed following the intervention of VAR.

A. Nusa

K. Sowah

75' Sowah is also given a breather with Nusa taking his place.

M. Rits

H. Vanaken

74' Brugge also makes two changes. The first sees Vanaken make way for Rits.

João Neves

João Mário

74' Neves also enters the action with Joao Mario given a well-earned rest.

Morato

N. Otamendi

74' Benfica make another double-change. The first sees Morata replace Otamendi.

73' Flourishing in his 30s, Joao Mario has now scored in his last five Champions League appearances. The last Benfica player to achieve that feat in Europe's premier club competition was a certain Eusebio.

João Mário

Penalty Goal

71' JOAO MARIO!!! 4-0 BENFICA! Cool as you like. Joao Mario steps up and calmly sends Mignolet the wrong way, rolling the ball into the empty net.

70' PENALTY! Benfica have the chance to make it 6-0 on aggregate after Sylla needlessly brings down Gilberto with a rash sliding challenge. That was irresponsible from the Brugge defender.

69' Despite the scoreline, Brugge have still registered eight shots on goal today. But crucially, none of them have been on target, and Benfica have pounced.

67' As we enter the final quarter of the second leg, it is damage limitation as far as Brugge are concerned. Parker will be desperate for his side to ensure the scoreline is respectable.

65' On a hat-trick, an opportunity almost presents itself to Ramos. But he cannot connect cleanly, and the ball ends up in the goalkeeper's grateful hands via his thigh.

Gilberto

A. Bah

63' Gilberto is also given an opportunity as he comes on for Bah.

David Neres

Chiquinho

63' Benfica also make a couple of alterations. The first sees Neres replace Rafa.

D. Odoi

Clinton Mata

62' Meanwhile, Odoi also enters the action with Mata making way.

Ferran Jutglà

R. Yaremchuk

62' Brugge make a double-change. Yaremchuk receives a generous ovation from the Benfica fans as he makes way for Jutgla.

61' The visitors desperately seek a route back into this game. Meijer's deep cross is parried by Vlachodimos and the ball is teed up for Nielsen, whose first shot is blocked before he sends his second over.

59' It is just too easy for Benfica. It was always going to be a step up for Brugge, but the gulf in class has been evident today.

Álex Grimaldo

Assist

57' Grimaldo's low centre was begging to be attacked, and Ramos duly obliged.

Gonçalo Ramos

Goal

57' RAMOS!!! 3-0 BENFICA! Ramos gets his second and surely that kills the tie! Following another neat build-up, Aursnes and Grimaldo combine with the latter crossing for Ramos, who loses his marker to turn home at the near post.

54' The reigning Belgian Pro League champions' task was always going to be difficult today. Indeed, only Bayern Munich and Liverpool have won away at Benfica in the Champions League since 2020.

52' Brugge have scored four goals away in Portugal already this season, doing so in their 4-0 rout of Porto. Although, you feel it may be a step too far for them this time around.

50' Brugge go on the attack at the other end with Meijer swinging in a cross from the left. Yaremchuk meets it, but cannot keep his header down.

B. Meijer

Yellow Card

49' Meijer prevents Bah from advancing into the penalty area, and is booked.

47' The hosts go straight onto the attack with Aursnes' shot deflecting behind for a corner. The ball falls to Joao Mario on the volley, but his effort is off target.

46' Benfica get the ball rolling once more in the second half.

R. Onyedika

N. Lang

46' Brugge make a change at the break with Nwadike replacing Lang.

Brugge must pull off a miracle to prolong their record-breaking Champions League run. Their mission is all the more difficult when you consider they have now failed to score in four-and-a-half games in the competition.

Benfica are well on course to secure a second successive appearance in the Champions League quarter-finals. First-half goals from Rafa and Goncalo Ramos have put them 2-0 up in the second leg against Club Brugge - and 4-0 on aggregate. It would take an almighty collapse for them not to prevail from here.

45' + 3' HALF-TIME: BENFICA 2-0 CLUB BRUGGE (4-0 AGG)

João Mário

Assist

45' + 2' Joao Mario showed great awareness to pick out Ramos with a reverse pass, before the latter scored a brilliant individual goal.

Gonçalo Ramos

Goal

45' + 2' RAMOS!!! 2-0 BENFICA! WHAT A GOAL! The hosts double their lead in wonderful fashion. Receiving the ball from Joao Mario's clever reverse pass, Ramos skips inside a couple of challenges before firing a low shot past Mignolet.

45' The free-kick is nicely placed for the left-footed Grimaldo, who swings a delivery towards goal, but it is straight down the throat of Mignolet.

A. Sylla

Yellow Card

43' Sylla takes out Bah on the edge of the Brugge box and has his name taken by the referee.

43' Benfica do well to deal with Lang's corner delivery. The ball drops to Buchanan on the edge of the box, but he cannot keep it down.

42' Brugge seek an immediate response and force a corner. Can the visitors capitalise?

40' That will settle Benfica down. The hosts had to withstand a decent spell of Brugge pressure, but they have relieved that with a timely goal.

Gonçalo Ramos

Assist

38' Ramos brilliantly picked out Rafa, who did the rest in sublime fashion.

Rafa

Goal

38' RAFA!!! 1-0 BENFICA! And it's 3-0 on aggregate! Rafa rounds off a stunning counter to give the hosts breathing space. Mata's backheel is intercepted and Benfica go straight onto the attack with Ramos leading the charge down the left. He crosses for Rafa, who neatly skips away from challenges before brilliantly finding the far corner with the outside of his boot.

37' Brugge continuing to threaten, but they must look to make the most of this spell. Remember, the visitors trail by two goals on aggregate.

35' There are three other Benfica players aiming to avoid joining Otamendi on a yellow card that would rule them out of the quarter-final first leg. Those are Joao Mario, Luis and Ramos.

33' Despite wasting that opportunity, it does appear to have inspired Brugge. Indeed, the visitors have looked a lot livelier since then, and Benfica will be wary.

31' Scott Parker will be frustrated after seeing Brugge fail to capitalise on their opportunity from that free-kick situation. The visitors prolonged their threat despite sending their free-kick into the wall, but that eventually ends when Lang overhits his attempted cross from the left.

N. Otamendi

Yellow Card

29' Otamendi trips Buchanan on the edge of the area and receives a yellow card that will rule him out of the quarter-final first leg should Benfica get there.

28' The omens are looking for Benfica. The Eagles have lost just three of 31 European knockout ties when winning the first leg, while they are unbeaten in 10 home games against Belgian opposition.

26' The decibel levels around Estadio da Luz increase as Joao Mario is found in space. Despite having a team-mate to his right, the in-form midfielder goes for goal, but his effort is blocked.

25' Benfica have certainly looked the more dangerous of the sides so far. But for their threat, the hosts have generated just a single shot on target.

23' At the other end, Vanaken makes another late run into the box from midfield. He gets his head on Lang's cross, but cannot direct it towards goal.

21' Grimaldo steps up to the resulting free-kick. But his delivery is far too high and never troubling Mignolet.

N. Lang

Yellow Card

20' Lang catches Otamendi late as the Benfica skipper let fly from 25 yards. The Brugge forward goes into the book.

20' OFF THE LINE! Another lovely move by the hosts culminates in Grimaldo teeing up Joao Mario for what appears to be a routine finish. However, Mechele is in the right place at the right time to make a crucial block.

19' Benfica have scored in each of their last 12 Champions League matches; their longest streak in this competition. You must go back to a 19-match European Cup streak between 1960 and 1963 for the last time they enjoyed a longer run.

R. Yaremchuk

Yellow Card

17' Former Benfica player Yaremchuk goes into the book after catching Chiquinho with a late challenge.

15' Benfica continue to threaten and Joao Mario gets in behind the defence. He unselfishly squares it for Luis, who shoots wide from close range. Although, his blushes are spared as the offside flag eventually goes up.

14' Following a neat move, Chiquinho seeks out Ramos' run with a neat throughball. However, Mechele gets across to make an important sliding challenge that denies the Benfica striker a sight on goal.

13' Ramos will be eager to build on his momentum having netted twice in Friday's 2-0 win over Famalicao. That took his tally for the season to 15 goals, while moving Benfica eight points clear at the Primeira Liga summit.

11' Good defending. Bah latches onto a long ball, with a neat touch enabling the full-back space to send in a low cross. But Sylla makes an important intervention before it reaches Ramos.

10' From a Brugge attack, Benfica counter with Ramos leading the charge. The striker gets his shot away, but scuffs it well wide of the target.

9' The visitors have registered a clean sheet in each of their last three Champions League away games. But that streak has come under severe threat inside these opening 10 minutes.

7' BRUGGE LIVING DANGEROUSLY! Sowak riskily plays the ball across his own penalty area. It is intercepted by Ramos, who scuffs his shot across the face of goal. There, Sylla's attempted block is creeping towards his own goal line, with Mignolet forced to quickly intervene and smother the ball.

5' The offside flag denied Joao Mario history. Should the midfielder find the net today, he will become the first Benfica player to score in five successive matches in Europe's premier competition since Eusebio's run of seven games between March 1963 and September 1964.

3' The visitors threaten at the other end with Vanaken meeting Nielsen's cross, but the skipper cannot keep his header on target.

2' NO GOAL! A let-off for Brugge as the referee correctly chalks this goal off. Replays show Ramos was offside when he received the ball during the build-up to the opportunity.

2' What a lovely goal! Benfica have the ball in the net after just 71 seconds as Mario cleverly flicks in Bah's low centre. But we're going to VAR...

1' Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler blows his whistle and Brugge kick things off.

The teams are making their way out onto the field. Both will observe the iconic anthem before we get under way.

Benfica are aiming to reach consecutive quarter-finals in Europe's premier competition for the first time since the 1960s. Meanwhile, Brugge must come from behind if they are to extend their best Champions League campaign to date.

On only one previous occasion has a team losing by two or more goals at home in the first leg of a Champions League knockout tie, but gone on to prevail. That was Manchester United, who achieved the feat against Paris Saint-Germain at this stage of the 2018-19 competition.

Both sides make just a single change to their respective starting line-ups. Benfica's sole alteration from Friday's win over Famalicao sees Chiquinho replace Neres, while Yaremchuk is preferred to Jutgla in Brugge's only change from their defeat by Oostende.

SUBS: Josef Bursik, Denis Odoi, Ferran Jutgla, Raphael Nwadike, Mats Rits, Dedryck Boyata, Antonio Nusa, Chemsdine Talbi, Cisse Sandra.

CLUB BRUGGE (3-5-2): Simon Mignolet; Clinton Mata, Brandon Mechele, Abakar Sylla; Tajon Buchanan, Casper Nielsen, Hans Vanaken, Kamal Sowah, Bjorn Meijer; Noa Lang, Roman Yaremchuk.

SUBS: Samuel Soares, Gilberto, Lucas Verissimo, David Neres, Goncalo Guedes, Casper Tengstedt, Andreas Schjelderup, Petar Musa, Rafael Rodrigues, Cher N'Dour, Joao Neves, Morato.

BENFICA (4-2-3-1): Odisseas Vlachodimos; Alexander Bah, Antonio Silva, Nicolas Otamendi, Alejandro Grimaldo; Florentino Luis, Chiquinho; Fredrik Aursnes, Joao Mario, Rafa; Goncalo Ramos.

It is advantage Benfica, who were 2-0 winners when the sides met in Belgium three weeks ago. Second-half goals from Joao Mario and David Neres put Roger Schmidt's side firmly in control of this tie.

Hello everyone and welcome to live text coverage of the Champions League last-16 second leg between Benfica and Club Brugge.

Benfica v Club Brugge Live Commentary, 07/03/2023

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