It was hard work, it was good... and Benfica won!

MATCH HIGHLIGHT

The clash from matchday 10 of the Liga Bwin, had a bit of everything and it did not disappoint! An intense clássico with several chances, a red card, a hard-fought match, and where Benfica won by 0-1. Consequence? Leadership extended to six points...

After the 3rd round of the Portuguese Cup [triumph over Caldas], attention was focused on the clássico, with Benfica traveling to the north of the country to face FC Porto. A clash between the 1st and 2nd in the League, separated by three points.

With natural ambition, in search of the three points,  Roger Schmidt chose to step onto the pitch at Estádio do Dragão with the same starting XI from the match in Paris, against PSG: Odysseas, Bah, António Silva, Otamendi, Grimaldo, Florentino, Enzo, Aursnes, João Mário, Rafa and Gonçalo Ramos. 

In the space of three minutes, Eustáquio saw a yellow card (24'), a second yellow card, and the respective red card (27') for fouling Bah, with FC Porto with a man down from then.

At 34', Grimaldo served Rafa, who overtook Diogo Costa but was unable to finish. Two minutes later, Grimaldo passed to Aursnes, who, after a good play on the left, hit the post; on the rebound, Rafa's header hit the crossbar! 

The first half was completed, shared dominance, opportunities, complicated game, with the 0-0 score being justified... and everything to play for!

Benfica restarted the match with three changes on the squad, with Bah, Enzo, and João Mário (all "yellow carded") coming off and being replaced by Gilberto, Draxler, and Neres.

Benfica with more ball possession and control; FC Porto defending deep, tightening the block, and exploring the counterattack... The tone was set for the second half. 

Minute 72 and Benfica opened the scoring at the Dragão! A fast combination between Neres and Rafa, with the eagles’ number 27 putting the ball in the back of the net! The goal was disallowed for offside, went to VAR... and the confirmation came. It was a goal, and Benfica took the lead!  

Final whistle and a 0-1 win for the Glorioso, which, with this result, strengthens the leadership in the standings, now with six points ahead of the blue and whites.

Another Champions League matchday follows, with Roger Schmidt's men hosting Juventus, in a match scheduled for 8 pm on Tuesday, October 2, on matchday 5 of group H.