Benfica continued their unbeaten start to this season’s Champions League with a commanding 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in Lisbon. A night to forget for Atletico, and particularly for Conor Gallagher, whose penalty concession and defensive errors contributed to Benfica’s comfortable win. Kerem Akturkoglu, Angel Di Maria, Alexander Bah, and Orkun Kokcu all found the net as Benfica maintained their perfect record in the group stage.
Benfica Strike Early Through Akturkoglu
Benfica took control of the game early, with Turkish international Kerem Akturkoglu opening the scoring in the 13th minute. The move started with a swift counterattack, with David Neres playing a precise pass into the path of Akturkoglu, who finished with composure, curling the ball past Atletico’s goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
The early goal set the tone for a night in which Benfica dominated both possession and chances. Atletico, under pressure from the start, struggled to establish any control in the midfield, with Benfica’s intensity and pressing causing constant problems for Diego Simeone’s side. The Portuguese champions seemed to find space at will, exploiting Atletico’s defensive frailties.
Gallagher’s Night Unravels After Half-Time
Atletico Madrid made a triple substitution at half-time, hoping to turn the tide after a lackluster first half. Among those introduced was Conor Gallagher, the English midfielder who had recently made a high-profile move from Chelsea.
Just four minutes after his introduction, Conor Gallagher found himself in a pivotal moment. Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis, who had been a threat throughout the first half, made a driving run into Atletico’s penalty area. Gallagher, attempting to stop the forward, was judged to have caught Pavlidis after a VAR review. The decision was clear, and the referee pointed to the spot.
Up stepped Angel Di Maria, a former Real Madrid forward, who calmly dispatched the penalty, sending Oblak the wrong way to make it 2-0 in the 51st minute.
Atletico Struggle, Benfica Thrive
Benfica’s dominance did not waver, and Gallagher’s tough night worsened further in the 75th minute. From a Benfica corner, Gallagher was outjumped by Alexander Bah, who rose highest to head home the hosts’ third goal. The goal was a result of poor marking and positioning from Atletico, and it highlighted their defensive frailties. Gallagher, having been responsible for the penalty earlier, was again at fault, losing his man in a critical moment.
Atletico, who had struck the crossbar in the first half through a mishit cross from Samuel Lino, continued to create few clear-cut chances. While they managed to push forward in search of a goal, Benfica’s defense held firm, with captain Nicolas Otamendi and Morato marshaling the backline effectively.
Kokcu Caps the Rout with a Late Penalty
As the game neared its conclusion, Benfica were awarded a second penalty after a reckless challenge by Atletico’s Reinildo Mandava. The left-back, trying to prevent a breakaway, mistimed his tackle on Benfica’s Diogo Gonçalves inside the area. The referee, without hesitation, awarded the spot-kick, and Orkun Kokcu made no mistake, sending Oblak the wrong way to seal the 4-0 scoreline.
It was the icing on the cake for Benfica, who had completely outclassed their Spanish opponents. The home crowd at the Estádio da Luz was in full voice as the final whistle blew, celebrating a dominant performance that keeps Benfica at the top of their group with maximum points from two games.
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