With the patience typical of a mature team that had come to terms with the difficulties caused by physicality, direct play and the madness of the opposition, not to mention the conditions in which they played, Benfica knew how to wait for the right moment to launch the arrow (Rafa) . It amazed him, filled the Scotsman’s huge heart and ensured his continued participation in the Europa League. Even saying he had a dream about the night in Glasgow carries a lot of weight, but moving forward in the race suits him just fine.
That suits him just fine, because after a first half in which little happened – apart from an emotional tribute to a Rangers fan who died in Lisbon last week – with a predictable game between the two sides (the Scots were eager to get to Trubin’s free kick anyway, Benfica defended with a great sense of mutual assistance and was always looking for a counterattack), where in football terms the red goalkeeper spoiled everything (he would have been chicken of the year…), it was worth waiting for the second 45 minutes.
Because Rangers showed even greater desire, and Benfica, with the arrival of Tengstedt, began to move better in attack, filling spaces better. And after the striker missed a good chance, the much-desired move happened: taking a corner against Benfica, Florentino passed the ball to Di Maria, who isolated Rafa with his head. A crazy race to the goal, a precise shot, the referee cancels it, VAR confirms it and… Benfica is ahead in the tournament.
Benfica settled down and showed some quality in the last 25 minutes. Because in football there is nothing better to calm your nerves than a goal!
“We defended very well and didn’t give ourselves any chances.”
“We played very well, defended very well and didn’t give them any chances to score. We had chances to transition and we could have scored earlier. We scored a goal and we defended patiently, we fought hard and we are happy about it. victory,” said Roger Schmidt, praising Florentino: “It was very good.” The Benfica coach assured that he has no preference in the draw, which will take place this Friday, starting at 12:00: “We are in the top 8 teams. We will do our best, no matter who the opponent is.”
The opponent will be announced this Friday
Benfica’s possible opponents in the quarter-finals are three Italian teams (Milan, Atalanta and Roma), two English teams (Liverpool and West Ham), one German team (Leverkusen) and one French team team (Marseille). The draw will take place this Friday at 12:00.
The future at the club “plays on Sunday”
“I always say this: Antonio wants to play on Sunday and for Benfica to win,” Antonio Silva responded this Thursday after being asked about his future at the club. “The pressure of playing for Benfica is to win every game.”
Author: Jose Manuel Freitas
Source: CM Jornal
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