Blauw-Zwart suffers 5-1 defeat against Benfica

After the 0-2 defeat in the first leg, Blauw-Zwart needed a miracle to still qualify for the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League. Benfica were 2-0 up at half-time and added three more in the second half. Late in the match Meijer scored a consolation goal for Club.

Club had a disappointing night against KV Oostende last Friday and consequently changes in the starting line-up were to be expected for the confrontation against Benfica. In the end, only one change was made: Jutglà was on the bench for Yaremchuk, who faced his former team. The Ukrainian striker had to provide the goals. The home side stepped onto the fray with an unchanged line-up compared to the game at Jan Breydel.

The match at the Estádio da Luz opened at a furious pace. The second minute, João Mario immediately put the ball in the net after he tapped in a cross but Ramos had strayed offside in the build-up so VAR overturned and the goal was chalked off. Immediately thereafter, it was Club with a clear chance but Vanaken's header on a Nielsen cross sailed just wide. Still inside the first quarter of an hour Ramos was sent through on goal, but he was thwarted by Mechele with a last-ditch tackle.

The hosts upped the tempo and created a number of clear-cut chances in the opening twenty minutes. Florentino scuffed his finish wide from around the penalty spot and João Mario saw his effort cleared off the line by Meijer.

A few minutes later Hans Vanaken was again close to open the scoring with a header. This time Lang picked out the captain in front of goal, but again the header missed the target. Around the half-hour mark Club got a bit more grip on the game and that resulted in a free-kick on the edge of the penalty are, but unfortunately Vanaken fired the ball into the wall. The moment the game was more balanced and Club found ways to come out of their own half, Benfica struck home just past the half-hour mark. Ramos showed pace on his flank and found Rafa Silva in front of goal, who put the ball in the far corner with the outside of his boot. This was the sign for Benfica to push through and on the stroke of half-time Ramos collected a pass from João Mário on the left. He wriggled past one tackle, evaded a second and third before driving it hard and low past Mignolet.

Scott Parker made one change at half-time: Lang stayed in the dressing room and Onyedika came on. It was a low-paced start of the seconf half, with a first small chance for Club. Meijer whipped in a cross, but Yaremchuk had to lean back too much and headed well over the bar.

Just before the hour-mark Blauw-Zwart conceded another goal. After a quick flowing build-up play Grimaldo's low cut-back fell into the feet of Ramos who swept home. The striker almost had a hat-trick a few minutes later, but Mignolet thwarted him. Things didn't go better in the remainer of the match. With twenty minutes on the clock Sylla brought down Gilberto inside the box and João Mario sent Mignolet the wrong way. A few minutes later Neres put his name on the score sheet as well with a low strike into the far corner. The hosts were simply a cut above Club.

A few minutes before the final whistle Meijer scored the consolation goal for Blauw-Zwart with a smart finish. On the edge of the area the Dutchman fired the ball into the top corner: 5-1.

Champions League – 1/8th final (2nd leg)
Attendance: 65.000 – Estádio da Luz
Referee: Halil Umut Meler (Tur)
SL Benfica: Odisseas Vlachodimos – Alexander Bah (63’ Gilberto), Antonio Silva (88’ Lucas Vérissimo), Nicolas Otamendi (74’ Morato), Alejandro Grimaldo – Joao Mario (75’ João Neves), Chiquinho (63’ David Neres), Rafa Silva, Florentino Luis, Fredrik Aursnes – Gonçalo Ramos.
Bench: Samuel Soares, David Neres, Gilberto, Lucas Vérissimo, Gonçalo Guedes, Casper Tengstedt, Andreas Schjelderup, Petar Musa, Rafael Rodrigues, João Neves, Morato, Cher N’Dour.
Coach: Roger Schmidt.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Clinton Mata (63’ Denis Odoi), Brandon Mechele, Abakar Sylla – Tajon Buchanan, Casper Nielsen, Hans Vanaken (75’ Mats Rits), Kamal Sowah (75 Antonio Nusa), Bjorn Meijer – Noa Lang (46’ Raphael Onyedika), Roman Yaremchuk (62’ Ferran Jutglà).
Bench: Josef Bursik, Senne Lammens, Dedryck Boyata, Jorne Spileers, Denis Odoi, Raphael Onyedika, Mats Rits, Cisse Sandra, Chemsdine Talbi, Antonio Nusa, Ferran Jutglà.
Coach: Scott Parker.
Yellow cards: Yaremchuk, Lang, Otamendi, Sylla, Meijer
Red cards: none
Goals: 38’ Rafa Silva (1-0), 45+2’ Gonçalo Ramos (2-0), 57’ Gonçalo Ramos (3-0), 71’ João Mario (4-0), 77’ David Neres (5-0), 87’ Bjorn Meijer (5-1)