Head coach Kasper Hjulmand made three changes to the side that lost 3-0 away at Bayern Munich, with Alejandro Grimaldo, Ibrahim Maza and Christian Kofane starting in place of Jeanuel Belocian, Robert Andrich and Patrik Schick. The Werkself had the first promising opportunity when Maza sidestepped an opponent in his own half and teed up Aleix Garcia. Maza received the ball again via Ernest Poku but fired wide (4’). Poku soon shone with a solo run but was crowded out (11’). Former Bundesliga player Dodi Lukebakio hit the bar on the break (12’) before the clash turned into a midfield battle for a spell.
After this brief lull, Nicolas Otamendi’s header crashed off the bar (33’) before Maza’s pass released Poku, who missed a gilt-edged chance when he slotted wide of the left post (35’). The home side then had a big double opportunity but Mark Flekken denied Lukebakio before Loïc Badé deflected Vangelis Pavlidis’s shot just over the bar (43’), leaving the contest goalless at half-time.
Benfica striker Pavlidis missed a big chance right at the start of the second half when he tried to round Flekken, but the Bayer 04 keeper thwarted him. The home side were still in the driving seat, with Hjulmand reacting after 56 minutes, when Kofane and Claudio Echeverri gave way to returnee Malik Tillman and Schick.
And it was the Czech forward who handed Bayer 04 the lead nine minutes after coming on. His initial effort was saved by Benfica keeper Anatoliy Trubin, but Arthur recovered the ball and Benfica failed to clear their lines, with Schick heading in to make it 1-0. The Portuguese record champions upped the ante looking for an equaliser, but Bayer 04 were solid in defence and stifled the home side’s chances to claim a crucial UCL victory!
The Werkself will be back in action on Saturday 8 November (kick-off at 15:30 CET) when they entertain FC Heidenheim at the BayArena on Bundesliga Matchday 10, before the last international break of the year.
Match stats:
Benfica: Trubin - Aursnes, Araujo, Otamendi, Dahl (Schjelderup 69') - Rios, Barrenechea - Lukebakio, Barreiro (Dedic 69'), Sudakov (Prestianni 69') - Pavlidis
Bayer 04: Flekken - Quansah, Badé, Tapsoba - Arthur, Garcia, Maza, Grimaldo - Echeverri (Tillman 57'), Poku (Ben Seghir 88') - Kofane (Schick 57')
Goal: 0-1 Schick (65')
Yellow cards: Lukebakio, Otamendi, Prestianni / Maza, Tapsoba, Tillman
Referee: Simone Sozza (Italy)
Attendance: 55,750 at the Estádio do SL Benfica
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