Benfica overcame the disappointment caused by the derbies against Sporting, by beating Olympique Marseille (2-1) on Thursday in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals, followed by a decisive match in a week in Marseille, with an eye on the semi-finals of the second biggest European club competition. Roger Schmidt's team started better and Rafa Silva opened the scoring (16'), having always been closer to extending the lead than conceding the equalizer, until the end of the first half of a match that, it should be recalled, was at risk of not having visiting fans, after all the controversy related to the ban (since lifted) by the French authorities placed on the encarnado fans for the second leg. After an interval that featured a chilling tribute to Sven-Goran Eriksson, Benfica managed to score a second goal, through Ángel Di María (52'), giving real threats of scoring a third. However, the French team reduced the deficit through Aubameyang (67') and raised doubts in the tie, especially in the search for a draw that did not materialize.

The will was there...

Roger Schmidt decided to maintain the same 'formula' applied in the duels against his rival, despite the negative outcomes in the Portuguese Cup and league matches, without any changes to the starting eleven, against an opponent who ended up making some changes at the indication of coach Jean-Louis Gasset.

The Eagles started well and, after a loss by Alexander Bah with half a dozen minutes elapsed, it was Rafa Silva's turn to appear in the right place to open the scoring in the 16th minute, causing the first major 'explosion' of joy at Luz - after some initial torches were lit in the stands, contrary to what was requested by Benfica, due to the  UEFA punishment.

Benfica did not take their 'foot off the gas' and persisted in search of another goal, albeit timidly, with shots from Casper Tengstedt and João Neves, with Faris Moumbagna also trying to scare Anatoliy Trubin in the meantime. David Neres and Ángel Di María also registered their attempts, but with no further changes until half-time.

'Scare' culminated in... whistles

After a (chilling) tribute to Sven-Goran Eriksson on the pitch at half-time, Benfica would return from the locker room without any changes, as would Olympique Marseille, in a second half that could not have started better for the 50,000 or so Benfica fans present at Luz. In the 52nd minute, Di María appeared inside the penalty area and, with a pass from Neres, scored the second goal of the match, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

The opportunity for the third goal was much closer than it seemed, especially in a new attempt by Tengstedt (on a 'bad day' in terms of finishing), but it would be the Marseille club that would reduce the deficit in the 67th minute, with Aubameyang taking advantage of a mistake by António Silva.

The truth is that Benfica were never the same after that. They succumbed to the pressure, became disorganized, felt some whistles that were being heard in the stands and almost nothing went well until the final whistle, with Roger Schmidt only promoting the entries of Marco Leonardo and João Mário (both in the 71st minute). With a narrow margin, Benfica travel to France on April 18, with conditions to dream of the Europa League semi-finals, despite the frenetic atmosphere they will face at the Vélodrome.

[News updated at 10:08 pm]

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