Benfica did not take long to show off their current in form front three of Roman Yaremchuk, Darwin Nunez and Rafa Silva, as Nunez opened the scoring for the home side just three minutes into the game with a great strike to the bottom left corner after taking a pass from Weigl. Benfica almost doubled their lead when Yaremchuk beat his defenders and got off a shot that was stopped by Barca keeper Ter Stegen. Barcelona almost brought the game level but a shot by Pedri just missed the bottom left corner. Barcelona dominated possession for the remainder of the half but Benfica kept the Spanish side an arms length away. Benfica did lose right back Valentino Lazaro to injury just at the conclusion of the half.
Benfica came out in the second half ready to attack and not sit back on the lead coming close just seven minutes in when Nunez caught Ter Stegen way off his line and rang his shot off the outside of the right post. It took Barcelona a while to get their composure in the half but Benfica continued to turn away the Barcelona attack until Rafa Silva doubled Benfica's lead at the 69 minute mark, smashing a Joao Mario rebound into the top of the net after a nifty one two pass in play between Mario and Yaremchuk. Benfica would then put the game out of reach after a VAR review saw the Lisbon club awarded a penalty when Gilberto's header went off the out stretched arm of defender Sergino Dest. Darwin Nunez would add his second of the game as Benfica took complete control of the game and handed Barcelona their second straight loss of the competition.
Top Stats
Benfica Barcelona
40% Ball Possession 60%
12 Total Shots 8
11 Chances Created 7
84% Pass Success 89%
12 Fouls Conceded 15
4 Corners 5
1 Offsides 4
6 Shots on Target 1
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