PSG v Benfica

A tense night at Parc des Princes, PSG needed to set the tone of the game but getting a goal and then defend. Benfica needed to get the away goal and hold on for at least a 1-1 draw.

On a night where the stadium was packed, and i mean packed by Benfica supporters and a squad that had been rested from playing the previous league game, the expectations of the visiting crowd and Eagle supporters were high.



Benfica started the match well, the attack from Benfica as usual was rushed forward, with a PSG defence able to stand the attack, Makelele seemed the man to break up most of Benfica’s attack from the middle, where Benfica had Pablo Aimar whom was being instrumental to create the offensive play.

Benfica took the lead on the 27th minute when Nico Gaitan was fed outside the area by Salvio, the Argentine looked up as to cross, but opted for a long range shot at goal, and with the ball swerving away from Edel Benfica went ahead 1-0 and with the much needed away goal.

But it was to be a short lived lead as on the 35th minute Bodmer equalized from a sweet right foot volley just inside Roberto’s goal area.

The second half was mainly dominated by the French, with Benfica being taken back to its goal at most occasions, the likes of Coentrao and Maxi Pereira constantly working the wings from the back, supporting Gaitan and Javi with Saviola in Behind Cardozo seemed to be always good for a counter attack at the ever attacking French side looking to get 1 goal to take the tie into extra time.

Roberto was called upon late in the match to make a point blank save to keep the reds in the game.

Benfica would have been able to get away from this with a goal more, but the usual connection of passing and finishing in the final third of the pitch was always stopping the comfortable passage through.



The atmosphere in the final 10 minutes in the stadiums was more than Benfica would have imagined, the crown of over 20,000 travelling an immigrant Portuguese people made it a home away from home, and the songs ‘Glorioso SLB’ and ‘Benfica Campeao’ could be hard to inspire the team on.



On another note with FC Porto and SC Braga through to the quarters as well, it could be a meeting between two Portuguese team or not avoidable should the all reach the semi finals.

Braga 2 v Benfica 1

Golf balls and off the bench refereeing decisions,

Benfica have lost their first match in a long while, it came at the hands of SC Braga and at a time when Benfica needed the three points to keep the pressure on FC Porto.

From the off Benfica seemed a team capable of getting a good result, but Braga had other intentions, throwing it all at Benfica.

On the 24th minute Saviola made it 1-0 when a free kick from Carlos Martins was badly handed by Artur, Saviola pounced to score.

The key moment for Braga’s game came on the 40th minute, when Javi Garcia was sent off after Alan fell to the floor claiming to have been punched in the throat, and with the Braga bench and officials all in agreement (and probably one made before the game) saw the red card routinely raised by Xistra. The resulting free kick from the side line saw Hugo Viana lob Roberto whom was way off his line.

The crowd egged on by the stadium announcer lost all control, and on a dry night, it seemed to rain golf balls and coins, many hitting Benfica players.

Benfica took to the pitch in the second half, with Saviola coming off and Airton coming in.

It seemed most attacks created Benfica just could not find the opening needed.

When the chances finally came, Cardozo and Coentrao were the two players who danced in front of goal but failed to convert.

Mossoro then ended Benfica’s night with a sweet right footer that again went over Roberto to make it 2-1.

In a finally summary: The game was played from the bench onwards, Braga had all intentions to get a result here, and pretty obvious from the crowd’s handling of Golf Balls, bad refereeing and play acting.. With Benfica also having a perfectly good goal disallowed for offside.