Positive dynamics with a nose for goal

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

A win that left no room for doubt. That's how Benfica won (1-3) the match that marked the end of matchday 30 of the Liga Betclic, with goals from Kökcü, Arthur Cabral and Álvaro Carreras. Bah provided the assists for the first two goals, and Di María was directly involved in all three.

For the match against Farense at the Estádio de São Luís in Faro on Monday, April 22, Roger Schmidt has made five changes to the starting XI that played in Marseille in the Europa League. Aursnes, João Neves, Rafa, David Neres and Tengstedt left the team, with Álvaro Carreras, João Mário, Tiago Gouveia, Kökcü and Arthur Cabral being selected. 

Benfica's dynamic was positive, fast and intense, and the chances came and went. In the 14th minute, Arthur Cabral fired a shot from outside the area that flew just wide of the post... The Eagles' goal was imminent and, after 16 minutes, Kökcü opened the scoring. In a beautiful team move, Florentino passed to Di María, with the latter waiting for Bah to come up the right wing. The Danish full-back perfectly assisted Kökcü, who shot to make it 0-1.

Despite not creating any dangerous situations, Farense was always an aggressive team and, against the run of play, even managed to equalize in the 23rd minute, following a corner kick. After a deflection at the far post, the ball fell to Belloumi who, with an unstoppable shot, made it 1-1.

Benfica's ascendancy didn't wane with Farense's goal, and the equalizer didn't last long. In the 34th minute, in a play that started with António Silva, Di María and Bah, on the right of the attack, were once again in complete harmony.  After a good combination, Bah made his second assist for a goal in the match. And what a goal it was. Arthur Cabral, in the box, attacked the space, got ahead of the defender and, with quality definition, scored with his heel to make it 1-2.

There were two more very dangerous play before the break. In the 37th minute, Di María played a one-on-one pass into the area between advancing opponents and shot wide; in the next minute, Tiago Gouveia passed to Arthur Cabral, who shot wide of the post from outside the area. The score at half-time (1-2) was too short.

The second half saw a slower pace, but always with a stronger Benfica side, who were able to manage and even extend their lead. In the 62nd minute, Roger Schmidt brought on João Neves - a player who came off after nine minutes following a clash of heads with Cristian Ponde - and David Neres, in place of Florentino and Tiago Gouveia respectively.

Farense created danger with a shot from Belloumi that was saved by Trubin in the 63rd minute, and this play ended up positively agitating the Benfica team, who, in the 67th minute, ended up making it 1-3 and deciding the match. Di María, on the right side of midfield, made a great pass into the area, where Álvaro Carreras received the ball, pulled it onto his right foot and finished successfully. This was the left-back's first goal in the Sacred Mantle. 

Roger Schmidt, Roger Schmidt, who had already brought on Aursnes in the 73rd minute due to João Neves' misfortune, also brought on Marcos Leonardo and Rollheiser in the 84th minute in place of Arthur Cabral and Di María respectively.

The next matchof the eagles will be on Saturday, April 27, at 6 pm against SC Braga, at Estádio da Luz, on matchday 31 of the Liga Betclic.