Fenerbahce Istanbul and Benfica Lisbon separated 0-0 in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs.
Wheeling whistles as soon as a Benfica player came to the ball: the device backdrop in the Saraclu Stadium sükrü was breathtaking right from the start. Above all, fans and team tried to unsettle the opponent. Jose Mourinho’s team from Istanbul defended in a narrow chain of five. This should make Benfica impossible to get chances.
Referee Daniel Siebert from Berlin had to take a close look across the entire field in many duels, and remained confident. Even then as a fenerbahces Fred in the 12th minute in the Benfica penalty room after a slight touch. Not a penalty, Siebert was right. Just like in the 27th minute, when he showed the yellow card for a foul off the ball for a foul off the ball. As a result, Kerem Aktürkoglu shot the free kick from a good 30 meters directly onto the goal and checked Feners goalkeeper Irfan Can Egribayat.
Anatolij Trubin, in the opposite goal, only had to react to degrees in the center. There was only excitement in his penalty area before the break when Fenerbahce hoped for a penalty. Shortly before the end of the half, Nicolas Otamendi met Duran on his face – but because he looked at the ball, Siebert refused to make the penalty and was right again.
Fener victory prevents fener
Even after the break, both teams were clearly noticed in the first leg. The first big excitement brought the 70th minute. Sieber Florentino showed the yellow card for a tactical foul in midfield. It was his second: dismissal. In the majority, Fenerbahce pressed the lead more and more. In particular, the substitute Anderson Talisca tried it out of all locations with shots on Trubins gate.
In the 80th minute, the ball finally landed online. Trubin slipped through his hands by one of the shots of Talisca. Then the ball crashed into the crossbar and Youssef En-Nesyri. His hit from a few meters did not count. The Moroccan had stood out in the way at Talisca’s attempt.
On Wednesday, August 27, Benfica Fenerbahce welcomes the second leg in the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon.