In the Portuguese Cup quarterfinals

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

 Benfica secured this Tuesday, January 10, a spot in the quarterfinals of the Portuguese Cup. The reds beat Varzim by 0-2, with goals from Grimaldo and Enzo.

In Póvoa de Varzim, Roger Schmidt started the following players: Odysseas, Bah, Morato, Lucas Veríssimo, Grimaldo, Aursnes, Enzo, Chiquinho, Neres, Draxler and Gonçalo Ramos. With four changes in the starting XI (compared to the win against Portimonense) of the Benfica coach, who saw his team opened the scoring early.

It was four minutes into the game when Grimaldo excellently took the free kick on the edge of the Varzim's penalty box (after a foul on Gonçalo Ramos) and opened the scoring at the Estádio do Varzim Sport Club. An amazing goal from Benfica's left-back, the captain of the reds in Otamendi's absence.

With the score 0-1 at halftime, Roger Schmidt changed the team, putting João Mário in place of Neres. For the home side, coach Tiago Margarido, who had already been forced to swap (due to injury) Paulo Moreira for Ramalho, also made changes and put Hélder Barbosa and Rui Areias in place of Bruno Bernardo and Onyeka Osemene.

Benfica's second goal arrived at 78'. Enzo (at the third attempt, after shots at 75' and 77') successfully finished after a pass from Chiquinho and sealed the win. A goal with special celebration of the Argentine, who was keen to show the fans that he is committed to the Club. 

With this victory Benfica ensured the qualification for the quarterfinals of the Portuguese Cup, where they will face, away from home, the winner of SC Braga-Vitória de Guimarães match, which is played on Wednesday, January 11.

Attention now turns to the derby. Benfica and Sporting meet next Sunday, at 6 pm, at Estádio da Luz, in a game from matchday 16 of the Liga Bwin.