Benfica Dominates Atletico Madrid in Champions League Clash

In a stunning display of football prowess, Benfica secured a commanding 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid on October 2, 2024, during their Champions League meeting in Lisbon. This result marks Benfica’s second win in as many games in the competition, underscoring their strong form under the management of Bruno Lage.

The game began with a defensive lapse by Atletico Madrid, allowing Kerem Aktürkoglu to capitalize on a precise pass from Fredrik Aursnes. Unmarked in the penalty area, Aktürkoglu coolly slotted home the opening goal in the 12th minute.

As the first half drew to a close, Vangelis Pavlidis narrowly missed an opportunity to increase Benfica’s lead, striking the post. However, justice was served early in the second half when Conor Gallagher fouled Pavlidis in the area, resulting in a penalty. Veteran Argentine star Ángel Di María stepped up to convert from the spot with a composed finish, doubling Benfica’s advantage in the 51st minute.

Di María continued to be a thorn in Atletico’s side, forcing a save from Jan Oblak shortly after. Benfica’s dominance was further cemented in the 74th minute when Alexander Bah headed home from a Jan-Niklas Beste corner, pushing the score to 3-0.

The comprehensive victory was sealed in the 83rd minute after Reinildo of Atletico conceded a second penalty by fouling substitute Zeki Amdouni. Orkun Kökçü made no mistake, blasting his effort into the top-left corner from 12 yards.

This triumph places Benfica in third position in the newly formatted Champions League league phase, closely trailing Borussia Dortmund and Brest due to goal difference. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid languish in 23rd place with only three points from their opening encounters.

For Diego Simeone‘s Atletico Madrid, the defeat highlighted ongoing struggles in their away performance in the Champions League. Atletico have now recorded only one victory in their last ten continental away games, which includes seven defeats. Their defensive frailties were starkly exposed, marking the worst loss to a Portuguese team since a 4-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in October 2020.

As Atletico Madrid looks to amend their form, their upcoming trip to face Paris Saint-Germain will be crucial. Improving their away record is imperative for Simeone’s side if they hope to progress further in the competition.