Gaitán propels Benfica to stunning win in Madrid

Gaitán propels Benfica to stunning win in Madrid

Atletico Madrid 1-2 Benfica

Benfica won a competitive match in Spain for only the second time in their long and proud history of European football by coming from behind to pull off a sensational 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid in the Vicente Calderón. 

Atletico took a deserved lead midway through the first half and threatened to overrun the Portuguese champions as they constantly cut through the centre of Benfica's defence. 

But the match changed after Nico Gaitán's fine equaliser shorty before half time. The home team continued to do most of the attacking, but when the majestic Gaitán instigated a brilliant counter-attack from the edge of Benfica's own area, the move swept all the way to the other side of the pitch where Gonçalo Guedes netted what proved to be the winner. 

Benfica coach Rui Vitória handed striker Raul Jiménez his first start for the Eagles, against the club the Mexican had represented last season. Former Benfica players Tiago and Jan Oblak were in the starting line-up for the hosts, as was ex FC Porto goal machine Jackson Martínez. 

Hosts quick out of the blocks

The Spanish team were straight on the attack, although Benfica had the first effort on goal when Jonas, brimming with confidence after a fine start to the season, jinked his way past a series of defenders before dragging a low shot from the edge of the area wide. 

But Atletico were soon applying heavy pressure on the Portuguese side, getting plenty of joy with their quick and accurate passing through the middle. Tiago fired in a shot following a corner and was incensed when no penalty was given as the ball deflected off André Almeida's arm. Jackson Martínez then lifted a glaring chance over the bar after latching onto a lovely dinked cross into the middle. 

An Atletico goal looked imminent and duly arrived when another series of rapid short passes cut through the heart of Benfica's defence, allowing Correa to poke into the net from close range. Jackson Martínez then hit the post with a diving header, and the out-of-sorts Colombian striker somehow missed from point-blank range after another perfect diagonal cross into his path, although the linesman's flag was up. 

Despite looking all at sea at the back, Benfica had remained lively on the break, Gonçalo Guedes seeing one effort cleared by the last defender after he had beaten Oblak to a long throughball and lobbed towards the net. And against the run of play Benfica hit back in the 39th minute as Nélson Semedo whipped over a cross which deflected off an Atletico defender's head into the path of the onrushing Gaitán, who lashed in a powerful cross-shot to make it 1-1. 

From that moment onwards the match changed. Atletico continued to dominate possession, but Benfica upped their concentration levels, especially in the second half with Atletico failing to find the gaps that had been so abundant in the Benfica defence in the first 45 minutes. 

Gaitán magic

Benfica took the lead on 51 minutes thanks to yet more sumptuous play for Argentine star Nico Gaitán. The midfielder picked up the ball on the edge of the Benfica box, dribbled out and exchanged passes with Jonas, all at high speed. As he sprinted up the left touch-line one glance across the pitch was enough for him to cut inside and execute a wonderful cross towards the racing Gonçalo Guedes. The 18-year-old made the most of the chance, producing a precise first-time finish from the tightest of angles. 

It's been quite a five days for the Portugal U20 international. On Saturday afternoon he scored his first senior goal in Benfica's win at home to Paços de Ferreira, and tonight he was the match-winner in one of Europe's toughest stadiums to visit.

Most onlookers were no doubt bracing themselves for an onslaught from Diego Simeone's men, but truth be told Benfica held on with relative ease, save one passage of play when the ever-dependable Júlio César produced a world-class double save to deny Jackson and Correa. 

The final whistle triggered rapturous celebrations among the 3,000 Benfica fans in the stadium, who will now be confident of progress to the knockout stages of the competition after two wins in their first two Group C games. 

by Tom Kundert 

Atletico Madrid: Oblak, Juanfran, Giménez, Godín, Filipe Luís, Correa (Torres, 77'), Gabi, Tiago, Óliver Torres (Saúl, 63'), Jackson Martínez, Griezmann (Vietto, 71')

Benfica: Júlio César, Nélson Semedo, Jardel, Luisão, André Almeida, Samaris (Fejsa, 73'), Gonçalo Gudes, Gaitán, Raúl Jiménez (Mitroglou, 71') Jonas (Pizzi, 80')

Goals:

[1-0] Correa, 23'

[1-1] Gaitán, 39' 

[1-2] Gonçalo Guedes, 51'