Round 1 to Porto as Dragões lay down early marker

20 September 2015

This is the week many fans in Portugal and abroad had been waiting patiently for - the first Clássico of the 2015/16 season.

Benfica travelled north to Porto on the back of two good results. Last Friday’s 6-0 win over fellow Lisbon side, Belenenses, was followed up in midweek with a 2-0 win over Astana in the Champions League. The Benfiquistas headed to Porto in confident mood.

Porto also went into this game in reasonable form since the international break. Arouca were dispatched 3-1 in the league last week but the Portistas had to be content with a 2-2 draw at Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday night in the Champions League.

FC Porto 1-0 Benfica

And so to the much-anticipated Clássico. Both of these side were looking to lay down an early marker in the race for the league title.

Benfica started the brighter of the two sides. Kostas Mitroglou’s back post header tested Casillas early on, followed up by a Luisão header (also from a corner) which was then flicked goalwards by the Greek striker and into the grateful arms of Casillas again. By comparison, Porto looked slightly predictable going forward and struggled to significantly trouble the Benfica back four.

Drama erupted in the 34th minute when former Benfica right-back, Maxi Pereira, saw yellow which led to melee between both sides. And, right on half-time, drama again as Maicon’s attempt to connect with a high clearance in a karate-style kick, just missed the head of Jonas. With the referee’s whistle instantly blown, both sets of players squared up to each other, including seeing the benches clear in a bid to calm things down. Meanwhile, Maicon was rushed from the scene and down the tunnel with haste.

The second half was a much stronger Porto performance with Aboubakar causing problems for Benfica. A superb cross by André André was met by the Cameroonian striker’s head. It beat Júlio César’s dive but not the post, keeping the score 0-0.

On 59 minutes, Aboubakar again tested the Benfica back four when he ran through on goal and evaded the challenge of Jardel and was only denied by a fine Júlio César save. The big striker reacted quickly to the rebound, evading Luisão’s block, but unfortunately for him, not the side netting.

Silvestre Varela replaced Jesús Corona on 62 minutes and it was the former West Bromwich Albion loanee who made a key difference as his back heel teed up the on-rushing André André who placed the ball past the diving Júlio César to give Porto a 1-0 lead and, ultimately, all three points.

FC Porto: Casillas, Maxi Pereira, Maicon, Marcano, Layún, Ruben Neves (Danilo, 78'), André André, Imbula, Brahimi, Aboubakar (Osvaldo, 82'), Corona (Varela, 62')

Benfica: Júlio César, Nélson Semedo, Luisão, Jardel, Eliseu, Gonçalo Guedes (Pizzi, 82'), Samaris (Jiménez, 88'), André Almeida, Gaitán, Jonas (Talisca, 77'), Mitroglou

Goals:

[1-0] André André, 86'