Benfica overtook FC Porto and closed the gap on leader Sporting, thanks to the triumph in their visit to Nacional (0-2), this Thursday, in a delayed game of the 8th round of the League.
Seventy-four days after fog interrupted the meeting between the Eagles and the islanders at the Madeira Stadium, the weather gave way and it was finally possible to play the delayed duel on the 8th round of the League. A lot has happened in that time and the scenario that Benfica could steal the lead in the event of a victory in Madeira is no longer feasible due to Bruno Lage’s team’s draw at Vila das Aves, last weekend.
Otherwise, everything is the same. Or almost. Tiago Margarido had to make a change in the lineup due to Nigel Thomas’ injury – Dudu took the place left by the Dutch-born striker.
Wall in France
Straight to the game. Nacional entered the match very active and managed to balance the scales in the first ten minutes, until Benfica took responsibility and dominated the match, with the fog giving the air of grace to spaces, but without ever taking referee Gustavo into contact. Correia considering interrupting the match.
In this initial corruption, the best opportunity belonged to the reds. In the 12th minute, Pavlidis headed Di María’s free kick for goalkeeper Lucas França’s first major intervention of the afternoon. The Brazilian, in fact, was the great figure of the 1st half.
The Brazilian shone again in defending the islanders’ goal, in the 29th minute, when he stopped Aktorkoglu’s shot, following a very well thought out (and executed) move by Di María, Kokçu and Pavlidis.
Shortly afterwards, at 36′, another great moment for Lucas França: monumental save from a point-blank header by Otamendi. But the number 37 shirt didn’t stop there.
At the half-time whistle, Nacional’s goalkeeper went to the ground to slap the ball and prevent Aktorkoglu from scoring, who put his hands on his head, unable to believe in yet another excellent save from the opposing goalkeeper.
Hand of Ulysses, Di María class
Benfica entered the second half with the same dynamics. Strong in pressing, focused on the Madeiran goal and (almost) total dominance. The first big threat came after 50 minutes, when Kokçu took advantage of the space and sent a ball to the crossbar. Lucas França, highlighted in the first half, was completely beaten.
Having difficulty opening the scoring, Ulisses Wilson gave a helping hand to Benfica, deflecting the ball outside the law inside Nacional’s area, with Gustavo Correia scoring a penalty, which would be converted by Di María in a classic way: ball to one side, goalkeeper to the other.
The 0-1 gave justice to the result and confirmed Benfica’s clear dominance in the game, against a Nacional without the ability to get the ball to the Eagles’ penalty area, nor to put Trubin on notice.
Without much surprise, Benfica scored again, again through Di María, in the 75th minute, and the final result was only greater thanks to… Lucas França. What a great performance from Nacional’s goalkeeper.
Man of the match Flashscore: Di María (SL Benfica)
