Champions, Benfica-Bruges 5-1: Portuguese in the quarterfinals

Joao Mario conducting the orchestra, Gonçalo Ramos in the role of unleashed frontman: the Bruges exam is passed with flying colors, now Benfica are a candidate to become the surprise of the Champions League. In the second leg of the round of 16, Schmidt’s team (after a 2-0 away win in the first leg) scored another five goals against the Belgians and snatched a ticket to the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year. There was no match in Lisbon, in the 45th minute the Portuguese were already ahead with two goals from Rafa Silva and Ramos. In the second half Gonçalo also signed the trio, Joao Mario converted a penalty and Neres made it 5-0 before Meijer’s goal from the flag. For Benfica there are 13 consecutive useful results. In the league he is +8 on Porto, in the Champions League he has never lost: 6 wins and 2 draws, both against Paris Saint-Germain.

THE MATCH

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Bruges’ 2023, on the other hand, started badly and… continued worse: just two victories won in 2023. The return of the round of 16 represented the opportunity to turn the season around, but the story of the match seems written after just a minute of play: Joao Mario stamps the 1-0 with a back-heel volley, the Var cancels everything for offside by Ramos. The Belgians breathe a sigh of relief, but the debacle is around the corner. The former Inter player places himself on the trocar and dictates the timing of his teammates’ insertion, Ramos and Rafa Silva swap positions and Bruges are unable to take measures. In the 15th minute Florentino eats away a goal that seemed to have already been scored, in the 19th minute Meijer blocks Joao Mario’s shot on the goal line. The match unlocked shortly before the break: Ramos goes to Silva in the center of the area, the 29-year-old checks, dissociates himself and places him outside in the corner. The final blow comes in added time with a spell by Gonçalo Ramos, who receives in the strait, dribbles through three opponents and crosses with power.

GOLEADA

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In the second half, Bruges’ offensive ideas were practically nil, while Benfica were a goal machine that pushed until the last minute. In the 57th minute Ramos found his personal brace (and his 23rd goal of the season) with a left-footed turn on a cross from Grimaldo. In the 70th minute Sylla lands Gilberto in the area, Joao Mario shows up on the spot and displaces Mignolet: 4-0. In the 75th minute, Schmdit sent the 18-year-old Neves onto the field, who after two minutes served Neres the 5-0 ball. At the end Meijer scored the 5-1: Bruges left the field exhausted, Benfica added another dream night to a practically perfect year. The only negative note was Otamendi’s booking for a foul on Lang: the Argentine was warned and will miss the quarter-finals.