Rampant Benfica crush Atletico Madrid 4-0 in Lisbon | OneFootball

Are the good times back at the Estádio da Luz? They certainly were tonight as Benfica put in their most convincing display for months to tear apart Atletico Madrid 4-0 and clock up a second successive victory in the Champions League.

Kerem Aktürkoglu got the ball rolling with an early goal, and despite Atleti enjoying plenty of possession in the rest of the first half it was the home team who continued to look the more dangerous.

In the second half the Spaniards fell apart as they conceded two penalties converted by Ángel Di María and Orkün Kökcü, with Alexander Bah heading into the net direct from a corner in between, and Benfica could have scored more.

Bah back, Silva benched

Bruno Lage welcomed back Alexander Bah after injury, the right-back’s return allowing his erstwhile replacement Tomás Araújo to move into central defence to partner Otamendi with António Silva dropped to the bench.

Several Atletico players were returning to Portugal, starting with goalkeeper Jan Oblak and Axel Witsel who both played for Benfica under Jorge Jesus, in addition to Samuel Lino (ex Gil Vicente) and Reinildo (ex Belenenses).

Benfica started brightly with Di María rolling back the years with jinking run and smooth pass into the path of Pavlidis, but the striker’s slight hesitation allowed a last-ditch interception. Pavlidis almost made up for the miss immediately, his header from the resulting corner brilliantly tipped over the bar by Oblak.

Ángel Di María was in irresistible form for Benfica against Atletico Madrid. Photo Arlindo Homem ©

Aktürkoglu again

The positive start helped maintain the vibrant atmosphere in the stadium, and the fans exploded into raptures of joy in the 13th minute as the hosts took the lead. Bah won the ball high up the pitch and passed to Aursnes, whose square pass gave Aktürkoglu a clear sight of goal and the Turk needed no second invitation, shooting under Oblak for his 4th goal in five games since signing for Benfica.

Atletico almost hit straight back, Lino pirouetting neatly but hitting his effort wide. Ángel Correa then tried his luck from distance, the shot deflected off Otamendi for a corner. The visitors were seeing plenty of the ball but failing to carve out chances, although they were close to a fortunate equaliser when Lino’s cross sailed over Trubin and stuck the crossbar.

On the stroke of half time Benfica were a whisker away from doubling their lead. Di María showed good persistence and when his shot was deflected into the path of Pavlidis a goal looked certain but the Greek striker’s angled effort bounced off the post and wide.

Carreras shines

Benfica were good value for their half-time lead, the exuberant form of left-back Álvaro Carreras exemplifying the renewed confidence surging through Lage’s players.

Diego Simeone obviously did not like what he had seen in the first half, the Argentine coach hooking Koke, Rodrigo De Paul and Antoine Griezmann at the break, bringing on Conor Gallagher, Javi Serrano and Alexander Sorloth.

It had the opposite effect to what he was hoping however, as Benfica completely dominated the second 45 minutes, often running Atletico ragged and making them look anything but the well-marshalled, tough and tight unit we are used to seeing under Simeone.

Five minutes into the second half Pavlidis bundled his way past a series of challenges in the box and hit the deck, the referee awarding a penalty after being alerted by the VAR and checking the pitch-side monitor. Di María stepped up and made no mistake from the spot.

Moments later the Argentine winger could have scored again as he raced clear down the right wing, but Oblak saved his shot when perhaps a cross would have been the correct option.

No let-up

Bruno Lage kept the pressure up by bringing on fresh attackers in the shape of Benjamín Rollheiser, Zeki Amdouni and Jan-Niklas Beste. In the 75th minute the game was made safe by Benfica as Alexander Bah headed in Beste’s corner, Atletico’s woeful defending allowing the Dane to head in without even having to take his feet off the ground.

Rollheiser shot inches wide as Benfica pummelled the Spaniards, and it was no surprise when another goal arrived. Amdouni seemed certain to score as he waltzed past the last man of Atletico’s distraught defence but the Swiss forward was brought down as he was about to pull the trigger by Reinildo for an obvious penalty. With Di María off the pitch, Kökcü took responsibility and duly beat Oblak to make it 4-0.

The chances kept coming with Oblak saving well from Beste, Rollheiser hitting the bar, and Amdouni firing just wide.

Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis battles for the ball in the air against Atletico Madrid. Photo: Arlindo Homen ©

Table toppers

Benfica join the select group of seven clubs at the top of the Champions League table with maximum points after two rounds of games in the new format of the competition and will be confident of maintaining their strong start when they welcome Feyenoord to the Luz in their next UCL match.

The Bruno Lage bandwagon rolls on.

Benfica: Trubin, Alexander Bah (António Silva, 85’), Tomás Araújo, Nico Otamendi, Álvaro Carreras, Florentino, Orkün Kökcü (Leandro Barreiro, 86’), Fredrik Aursnes, Ángel Di María (Benjamín Rollheiser, 71’), Vangelis Pavlidis (Zeki Amdouni, 60’), Kerem Aktürkoglu (Jan-Niklas Beste, 71’)

Atlético Madrid: Oblak, Giménez, Witsel, Reinildo, Samuel Lino, Marcos Llorente (Molina, 33’), Koke (Conor Gallagher, 46’), Rodrigo De Paul (Javi Serrano, 46’), Antoine Griezmann (Alexander Sorloth, 46’), Julián Álvarez (Giuliano Simeone, 60’), Ángel Correa