Benfica escape Vizela with a win

Benfica went to Caldas da Vizela knowing full well that they would need a victory to remain a top Portugal as rivals FC Porto and Sporting were both victorious on Saturday. Newly promoted Vizela was a tough nut to crack defensively and actually produced a few scares in the first half before Benfica took full control of the game in the second, but it was not until an 11th hour goal by Rafa Silva finishing off a Pizzi pass that would give the visiting Eagles a much needed 1-0 victory in what was the final play of the game. Benfica have struggled to score since their victory over Barcelona four games ago and head into there Taca da Liga midweek encounter against Guimaraes, with move questions then answers.

Rui Costa asks players to hold heads up

Newly appointed Benfica President Rui Costa made his way Wednesday night to the Benfica locker room after the clubs disappointing loss in Champions League action to Bayern Munich to tell the players in the Eagles shirts to hold their heads up and move forward with encouraging words. The former player is well aware that at the end of a match that does not go your way the best way to get past the feelings of sadness and frustration is to look towards the clubs next match, which takes place on the road on Sunday when Benfica travel to take on Vizela in league action.

Benfica have now struggled in their last three games, losing two of the games at home after a morale boosting victory over Spanish giants Barcelona and cling to a slim one point advantage a top the Portuguese league after eight games of play.

Benfica collapse in final twenty minutes in loss to Bayern

Benfica suffered their first loss of their Champions League campaign at home to Bayern Munich 4-0 after holding off the German powerhouse scoreless for the first seventy minutes of the game. Benfica and Bayern went into the half scoreless as Bayern missed some good opportunities from Lewandowski and Coman, Benfica did respond with a glorious chance from Darwin Nunez that was turned aside by Bayern keeper Neuer. Benfica got a scare just before the half when Lewandowski though he had opened the scoring for the visitors but a VAR review negated the goal after a handball was spotted.

The second half saw VAR come into play once again against Bayern just eight minutes into the half as a Muller goal was called back after Coman was caught offside in the build up to the goal. Benfica seemed destined to open the scoring after a couple of chances the first by Diogo Goncalves' who's left footed shot was put over the bar by an outstretched Neuer. Yaremchuk then had his superb individual effort go inches wide of the left post as the hosts pressed to open the scoring.

Bayern would take the game by the horns at the seventy minute when a Leroy Sane free kick from 25 yards found the top right corner of the net. Bayern pressed on and scored again at the eighty minute mark with an own goal by substitute Everton. Bayern striker Lewandowski would add his name to the scoresheet just two minutes later and Sane would get his second of the game just two minutes after that as Bayern did all their damage within fourteen minutes of the second half on their way to their third straight victory of the campaign. Benfica remain second in the group with three games left until the round of 16.

                                         STATS

                 Benfica                                Bayern Munich                                            

                     35%        Ball Possession           65%

                      8              Total shots               21 

                      8           Chances created          16

                     213        Accurate Passes          483

                      4                Corners                   3 

                      0                Offsides                   7

                      3            Shots on Target            7