Benfica qualifies for quarter-final after gala performance; beautiful goal Meijer


Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 10:49 PM• Jonathan van Haaster • Last update: 23:04

Benfica has qualified very convincingly for the quarter finals of the Champions League. After the first game against Club Brugge was already won 0-2, the Portuguese also proved to be too strong at home: 5-1. The hosts’ goals came from Rafa Silva, Gonçalo Ramos (twice), João Mario and David Neres. At Bruges, Noa Lang mainly stood out with a hard tackle in the first half, while Bjorn Meijer was one of the bright spots with the Belgians. In the final minutes he saved the honor of the visitors with a beautiful shot in the intersection.

Benfica coach Roger Schmidt had a starting place for Fredrik Aursnes, among others. The former Feyenoord player was left in midfield in the 4-2-3-1 formation of the Portuguese. Rafa Silva, João Mario and Gonçalo Ramos were Benfica’s most attacking pawns. Neres had to make do with a raid. At Bruges, Bjorn Meijer and Noa Lang were assigned a starting place by trainer Scott Parker, who opted for a 3-5-2 formation. In addition to Lang, Roman Yaremchuk was at the forefront. The Ukrainian played 48 times for Benfica.

Benfica already thought to take the lead in the second minute through a nice heel ball from João Mario. In the run-up to the goal, however, Ramos turned out to be offside: goal disallowed. Almost immediately afterwards, Bruges had its biggest chance of the game. A cross from Casper Nielsen landed on the head of the uncovered Hans Vanaken, who didn’t get enough power behind his effort. Roman Yaremchuk was also in a better position behind the Belgian, who watched with disappointment as Benfica was allowed to take a goal kick.

Meijer and Lang claimed a leading role around the twentieth minute. The former was the hero by clearing a bet from João Mario in front of the goal line, while Lang was booked for a hard charge on Nicolás Otamendi. Ten minutes before the break it was a hit for Benfica. A handsome cross from Ramos ended up with Rafa Silva, who subtly finished with the outside on the right: 1-0. Just before the break, Ramos made it 2-0 himself. The striker nicely got rid of three defenders and hit the short corner.

After the break, Meijer created the first danger. The left back had a measured cross to Yaremchuk, who should have done more with the header opportunity. Not much later it was hit on the other side. Alejandro Grimaldo passed Ramos, who managed to find the short corner with his left: 3-0. With the now subbed Neres within the lines, Benfica received a penalty twenty minutes before the end, after Abakar Sylla made an awkward tackle on Grimaldo. João Mario got behind the ball and took advantage of the opportunity: 4-0. Fifteen minutes before the end, Neres made it 5-0 on the instructions of another substitute, João Neves, by means of a careful slider in the far corner. The final chord was for Meijer, who found the intersection with the outside on the left: 5-1.