Joao Mario continued his superb form as Club Brugge produced one of the most comfortable football scores of the weekend in the Champions League. Benfica dominated the away game and ensured they would have a lead to protect at home in the return in Lisbon on March 7 by scoring on a penalty kick by Joao Mario in the 51st minute. The penalty was given when Goncalo Ramos was knocked down by Scotland’s Jack Hendry, a defender for Brugge, in an errant challenge. In the 88th minute, Neres tucked away the second goal by taking advantage of a defensive blunder. Defender Bjorn Meijer of Brugge failed to make a clearance, and substitute Neres snuck in to seize the ball and score. In stoppage time, he attempted again to score but it was called off for offside.
Joao Mario was one of many Benfica strikers who spurned excellent opportunities in the first half as the two-time European Cup champions overcame Club Brugge’s strong start to create a number of chances. Ramos and Antonio Silva wasted the best chances while putting their determined efforts above the others. Tajon Buchanan and Noa Lang both had shots stopped in the first 20 minutes of the game at the Jan Breydel Stadium as Brugge had the support of the entire crowd. However, the visitors quickly gained control after that and were able to break past the home defense, despite their terrible finishing.
A minute before halftime, Brugge had the ball in the Benfica goal, but Denis Odoi was offside as he touched the back of Lang’s free kick. The Belgians, under new coach Parker, had hoped that the Champions League would provide them with an opportunity to bounce back from a string of disappointing domestic results, but they now face an uphill battle to remain in the competition. When they unexpectedly qualified from the group stage in September, they defeated FC Porto 4-0, and they will need another shocking outcome to get to the quarterfinals. Benfica increased their best-ever Champions League winning streak to eight games.
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