Benfica 4-1 Midtjylland

It was a highly satisfactory first competitive match of the season for Benfica who ran out 4-1 winners against Danish outfit Midtjylland in the first leg of the Champions League 3rd qualifying round in Lisbon tonight.

Young Portuguese striker Gonçalo Ramos scored a hat-trick, Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández marked his impressive debut with a stunning goal, and such was Benfica’s dominance it is no exaggeration to say that the Portuguese side could have scored double their goal tally. Wasteful finishing and a penalty for Midtjylland scored by Sisto were the only blemishes on a good night for the Eagles. 

It feels like a fresh start for Benfica. For the first time in nearly two decades the Eagles begin the season with a new president in place, the Luís Filipe Vieira era over, replaced by club legend Rui Costa. For the first time since 2008 the Lisbon club have a foreign coach in the dugout, with German tactician Roger Schmidt producing positive early indications.

As in recent seasons, Benfica face a massively important challenge at the very start of the new campaign, having to negotiate two qualifying rounds to reach the money-laden Holy Grail that is the Champions League. On Tuesday Danish outfit Midtjylland are the opponents at the Estádio da Luz. With the aid of Danish football journalist Toke Theilade, PortuGOAL previews the tie. 

Porto added another trophy to the cabinet after a routine 3-0 win against Tondela in the Super Cup. Mehdi Taremi and Evanilson scored within three minutes to establish a 2-0 half time lead, Taremi bagging his brace in the 82nd minute to end a one sided contest.

Danny Loader got a rare start for the Dragons but was continually denied by Babacar Niasse who kept the score respectable. New signing Gabriel Veron was a late substitute and headed wide with the last chance of the game.

Sérgio Conceição reached a signifcant milestone in Aveiro, winning his eighth trophy with FC Porto to surpass Artur Jorge who won seven titles between 1985 and 1991.

The transfer of former Benfica captain Pizzi to Al Wahda in the United Arab Emirates, coached by Portuguese manager Carlos Carvalhal, was confirmed yesterday.

Although it comes as no surprise, the subdued exit and fraught end to Pizzi’s career at the Estádio da Luz feels unsatisfactory for both the player and the Lisbon club.

It should not be forgotten that we are talking about a footballer who gave outstanding service to the Eagles: 8 seasons, 360 games, 94 goals and 10 trophies. So how did it end this way?