Benfica break Juventus hearts – and records PSG cruise
Juventus’ Champions League run has ended prematurely following Benfica’s 4-3 win at the Estádio da Luz. With 11 points from 5 games, Benfica have pushed through to the next round comfortably, leaving Juventus with a lonely 3 points and a date with PSG to salvage some pride and a place in the knockout rounds of the Europa League.
While a late push by Juventus ensured a nervous end to the game, it was the uncommon sight of Juventus conceding 3 first-half goals that proved the difference in the game – a rather unwanted first in the history of the venerable Italian club.
If there’s a bet to place right now, it might be a good idea to bet on Juve’s manager getting the sack before November starts.
Teenage sensation Antonio Silva opened matters for Benfica with a 17th minute goal which Moise Kean cancelled out a few minutes later. Benfica then stole the lead again with a controversial penalty courtesy of João Mario. The plaudits of the night belonged to Rafa Silva – no relation to Antonio Silva but a definite ode to the silver linings in this 20-match unbeaten Benfica team – who scored either side of the break with two superb finishes. It was only the efforts of the post that prevented Rafa from scoring a humiliating hat-trick over the legendary Italian side.
The visitors weren’t ready to sit back and watch Benfica extend their winning run though and they came back strong, if somewhat too late, to add two more goals to their scoresheet through the boots of Arkadiusz Milik and Weston McKennie. Both scores were brilliantly set up by young Englishman Samuel Iling.
It was a night of inventive play and purpose from Benfica and to put 3 past Juventus – again, the first time this has happened in their history – is surely a warning to any other teams looking to face them this Champions League season.
Benfica played with purpose and vision to bag the points and seal their place in the knockout stages.
Paris Saint-Germaine put Maccabi Haifa to the sword
It was the superstar trio of Messi, Mbappé and Neymar who led the dismantling of Israeli club Maccabi Haifa in 7 goals to 2 rout on Tuesday to send the Paris giants into the last 16.
Kylian Mbappé’s ball in from the left found Messi whose outside left foot strike found the net for the opening goal in the 19th minute. Mbappé followed it up with his own superb shot in the 39th minute, the bending right-footed strike screaming past hapless Josh Cohen who had a torrid night at the boots of the PSG stars.
Mbappé and Messi were again on the charge 3 minutes later, this time combining to set up Neymar for a shot that went in off the post.
The Israeli club, 3-0 down, did not give up though and a lapse by PSG saw Omer Atzili’s free kick find an unmarked Abdoulaye Seck who headed home to pull one back for Maccabi. Unfortunately, PSG were quick to capitalise again, this time with Neymar and Messi working together to end with Messi scoring his 129th Champions League goal.
Maccabi came out strong in the opening 10 minutes of the second half with Seck getting the better of Donnarumma with a brilliant header, but it was only a brief respite to the PSG onslaught.
Goals from Mbappé, an own goal from Sean Goldberg, and a set up by Messi for Carlos Soler to score put the game way beyond punters’ expectations and closed out the 7-2 score.
On a note related to Rafa Silva’s almost-hat-trick in the Benfica/Juventus fixture, Messi’s shot off the crossbar denied the Argentinian legend a record 9th Champions League hat-trick.
While PSG go through to the last 16, the spirited Maccabi still have a shot at the Europa League as they sit level with Juventus on 3 points.
Havertz fires Chelsea into the knockouts
Chelsea managed to hold their nerve when a phenomenal fightback from RB Salzburg put their qualification hopes in jeopardy on Tuesday night.
Nobody could have called Salzburg’s surge as Junior Adamu sent the Red Bull Arena into raptures by cancelling out Mateo Kovacic’s early strike, and for just a couple of moments it seemed liked the Austrians might make the men from South London sweat.
Some pundits were even beginning to question Graham Potter’s tactics. Sterling and Pulisic as wing backs? Sounds nuts. But there’s obviously some method to the madness. It just didn’t feel that way after Adamu’s equaliser raised the spirits of the Austrian’s on and off the pitch.
The doubt didn’t last very long though. Chelsea have been a very composed side since Potter took over and they needed to be on Tuesday. Finally, a touch of class from Kai Havertz put Chelsea back in the driver’s seat. A player with such talent and potential who, besides his Champions League winning goal in 2020, has failed to live up to his billing since joining the Blues. But his strike against Salzburg was simply brilliant. 25 yards out, left foot, bottom side of the crossbar and in. No chance for any keeper on any day. It was stressful at times but at the end of the day, the Blues could celebrate topping Group E with a game to spare.
The fight for last 16 continues
Milan continue to push for a place in the knockouts with a 4-0 victory of Dinamo Zagreb, and RB Leipzig put one over the title holders Real Madrid with a 3-2 home win. Sevilla beat FC Copenhagen 3-0 to maintain a technical chance of being the