Torch throwing in the stands
Roger Schmidt and Benfica experience CL debacle
November 8th, 2023, 11:15 p.m
After a desolate performance and 21 minutes of football hell, coach Roger Schmidt and Benfica Lisbon no longer have a chance of making it to the knockout round of the Champions League. The Portuguese champions also lose their fourth group game at Real Sociedad San Sebastián.
With the next magical evening in the Champions League, Real Sociedad San Sebastian opens the door to the round of 16. The Spanish football club beat the still pointless and puzzlingly poor Benfica Lisbon led by German coach Roger Schmidt 3-1 (3-0). While San Sebastian comfortably leads Group D with ten points from four games, third place and the associated play-offs for the knockout phase of the Europa League are only possible for the Portuguese.
Former Dortmund player Mikel Merino (6th minute), Mikel Oyarzabal (11th) and Ander Barrenetxea (21st) made the decision before the break. Benfica were even lucky not to fall further behind in their disastrous performance because Brais Méndez (29th) shot a penalty kick onto the post. After the break, Schmidt’s team at least improved a bit. Rafa Silva (49th) managed to score quickly, but it wasn’t enough for the quarter-finalists from last season. Rafa’s goal was the first for Benfica this premier class season.
After four games, Benfica still has zero points and no chance of securing one of the top two places in Group D. The pressure on Schmidt continues to increase ahead of the landmark derby against league leaders Sporting Lisbon on Sunday. For La Real, represented in the premier class for the third time, the second round of 16 in the club’s history came true later in the evening – Inter Milan won 1-0 at RB Salzburg. In their debut season in 2003/04, the Basques made it to the round of 16, but were defeated by Olympique Lyon.
Meanwhile, there were bad scenes in the stands. Fans from Lisbon had thrown flares into the home team’s spectator block. “Shame on you, Benfica fans,” Real tweeted late in the evening. “We will do everything we can to identify those responsible. They are criminals,” said club president Jokin Aperribay. After the game, he reported that Benfica president Rui Costa had apologized to him for the incidents. “The president of Benfica was ashamed and asked me to apologize several times,” he said. There were initially no reports of injuries.