A masterclass in patience and magic!

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Another clássico won! With Neres and Di María breaking down the flanks, Benfica beat FC Porto by 1-0 this Friday, September 29, in a game from matchday 7 of the Liga Betclic, held at Estádio da Luz. The Eagles, in front of the enthusiasm and unceasing support of the overwhelming majority of the 62,247 spectators, recorded their 6th consecutive victory in the competition, where they have 18 points.

António Silva, João Neves and Di María were the new additions to Benfica's eleven compared with the Liga Betclic matchday 6 fixture against Portimonense (1-3).

At 19', we saw one of the key moments of the match. Neres, launched at speed, was preparing to overtake Fábio Cardoso and break clear towards Diogo Costa's goal, when he was fouled by the opposing center-back.

Referee João Pinheiro didn't hesitate and showed Fábio Cardoso a straight red card, a move that the VAR had no doubts about.

In the 34th minute, another move that could lead to a disciplinary sanction. Rafa, at speed, won the ball from David Carmo, prepared to break away towards the opposite goal and was fouled. João Pinheiro showed the yellow card, the referee was alerted by the VAR, Artur Soares Dias, but he stood by his decision and didn't show the red card.

The game of patience continued in the second half, with Di María and Neres looking for space down the flanks and Rafa in the center. It was precisely on a Neres run down the left that Musa had the chance to open the scoring in the 51st minute, but the Croatian international's shot went just wide.

Benfica pressed and Kökcü, in the 53rd minute, with a shot from inside the box, on the left, hit the post, with Diogo Costa beaten. The opposing goalkeeper was decisive three minutes later, when Neres, following a classy pass from Di María on the right, took an opponent out of the way and finished right-footed against the away side's No. 99. What a great chance!

Roger Schmidt decided to freshen up the front line in the 67th minute, bringing on Arthur Cabral in place of Musa, but it was up to the Neres-Di María partnership to decide the match. The Brazilian international dribbled down the left, beat the opposing defender, and crossed. Di María shot in the box, with the ball skimming off a defender, leaving Diogo Costa out of his way (1-0). It was the world champion's 5th goal in this edition of the Liga Betclic, his 6th in eight games this season.

In Luz, Benfica beat their direct rivals for the title once again in the 2023/24 season, after winning the Super Cup and making it two wins in a row. The Eagles have taken their tally of points in the Liga Betclic to 18 and are on a run of six consecutive wins.