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Club Brugge face an uphill climb for qualification into the quarter-final after losing at home to Benfica.
Raphael Onyedika put up a brilliant first-half performance for Club Brugge, but it was not enough, as a double in the second-half helped Benfica win 2-0.
Club Brugge hosted Benfica at the Jan Breydel Stadium as they looked to continue their storied Champions League campaign. The hosts put up a good fight, but the Eagles were superior in the aspects that mattered, taking a two-goal advantage from their trip.
Joao Mario put the visitors ahead in the 51st minute from the penalty spot, before former Ajax man David Neres doubled the advantage in the 88th minute of the game.
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Club Brugge would now have to score two unreplied goals to force the game into extra time or three to win outright when they visit Estadio da Luz in three weeks.
How it happened
A clumsy challenge from Hendry on Goncalo Ramos in the box saw the visitors awarded a penalty. Joao Mario stepped up and fired the ball high but close to Simon Mignolet’s reach who could only redirect the ball ever so slightly to the inside of the crossbar deflecting it into the net.
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David Neres pounced on a defensive mistake from the Blauw-Zwart, before he cooly buried the ball in the back of the net.
Raphael Onyedika's performance
The Nigerian defensive midfielder started at the base of midfield for the home side, and he put on an impressive performance as he has done all tournament long for Club Brugge.
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The 21-year-old had a brilliant first-half. Although his influence waned in the second, and his team lost, Onyedika still stood up to be counted. The midfielder created a scoring chance for a teammate, won 100 per cent of his aerial duels, completed two of three long balls, and 100% of the dribbles he attempted.
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