Salzburg leads Group D after this victory, even though they played with 10 men for over 75 minutes. This win marks their third away victory in the Champions League.
The game at Estádio da Luz witnessed a thrilling performance. Salzburg took the lead with a penalty converted by Roko Šimić in the 15th minute. Oscar Gloukh (51.) extended their lead after halftime, and Benfica struggled to make a comeback, despite having numerical superiority after a red card for António Silva.
In the parallel Group D game, Real Sociedad and Inter Milan drew 1-1 in San Sebastian. Marko Arnautovic made his starting eleven debut for Inter but was substituted in the 55th minute. Brais Mendez had already scored for Real Sociedad in the 4th minute, and Lautaro Martínez (87th) equalized late in the match.
Salzburg began the game aggressively, and within just 1:22 minutes, a penalty was awarded as goalkeeper Anatolij Trubin collided with Salzburg’s Strahinja Pavlović. However, Karim Konaté missed the penalty.
Both teams were active on the offensive, with Salzburg pressing high. Benfica managed to escape Salzburg’s pressure with their combination play. In the 12th minute, João Mário hit the left post, while Šimić’s strike hit the crossbar and resulted in a clear penalty for Salzburg, with António Silva receiving a red card.
This time, Šimić converted the penalty, giving Salzburg the lead. Benfica attempted to equalize through set pieces, but Salzburg’s goalkeeper Alexander Schlager made crucial saves.
After halftime, Salzburg continued to dominate and increased their lead through Gloukh. Benfica, despite being down to 10 men, didn’t give up. Schlager showcased his skills with a crucial save in the 66th minute.
As time passed, Benfica’s strength dwindled, while Salzburg maintained their attacking stance in Champions League. In the 77th minute, Salzburg had a double chance through Amar Dedic and Kjaergaard. The away win was sealed after 95 minutes.