Shooting festival against Bruges
Schmidt storms through the premier class with Benfica
03/07/2023 11:32 p.m
Roger Schmidt remains on course for success: With Benfica Lisbon he is about to win the championship – and for the first time in his coaching career has reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Benfica inspires coaches and audience with a thumping victory.
Confident in the national league, superior in the Champions League: Coach Roger Schmidt has reached the quarter-finals of the European premier class with the Portuguese record champions Benfica Lisbon after a shooting match. The leaders of the Primeira Liga, who are heading towards their first title since 2019, convincingly defeated the ailing Belgian champions FC Brugge 5-1 (1-0) in the second leg of the round of 16. Benfica had already won the first leg 2-0.
Rafa Silva (38′), Goncalo Ramos (45’+2/57′), who had scored three times for Portugal in the World Cup round of 16 against Switzerland (6-1), and the strong Joao Mario scored the goals for the friendly hosts (71′, penalty kick) and David Neres (78′). Björn Meijer (87th) scored late for Brugge. Benfica, opponents of Bayer Leverkusen in the group stage, had already reached the round of eight last year. There, the two-time national champion lost to eventual finalists Liverpool FC.
Things could have been far worse for Brugge, currently fourth in the domestic league. However, a hoe hit by Joao Mario after 76 seconds was disallowed for offside. In addition, Meijer hit a volley from the 30-year-old offensive player just off the line (20′). For Roger Schmidt, who has to sit in the stands for the next game after throwing a bottle at the crowd, it is his first place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. He had previously failed twice in the round of 16 with Bayer Leverkusen.