Lang and Meijer await tough job with Bruges after defeat against Benfica in CL | Football

Feb 15, 2023 at 10:58 PMUpdate: 2 hours ago

Club Brugge suffered a defeat on Wednesday in the first leg of the eighth finals of the Champions League. The Belgian formation lost 0-2 to Benfica, which therefore has a place in the last eight within reach.

In the first half, the two teams kept each other in check, although Benfica was clearly the better team. Nicolás Otamendi was able to head in from close range, but had his sights set too high. Midfielder Rafa Silva hit the post.

Bruges turned out to be a sensation in the group stage of the champions ball, but had an extremely difficult time with the Portuguese team of former PSV coach Roger Schmidt. Basic players Noa Lang and Bjorn Meijer could breathe a sigh of relief when Silva missed another header.

The Belgian home team thought they had taken an undeserved lead just before half-time. Denis Odoi nodded in the ball, but the party in the Jan Breydel Stadium was cancelled. The Belgian-Ghanaian right back was just offside at the time of finishing.

David Neres accounted for the 0-2.Photo: Getty Images

Neres scores second Benfica goal

Even after the break, Benfica was the better team. In the 51st minute this dominance was converted into a lead. The ball hit the spot after a foul on Gonçalo Ramos and the penalty kick was flawlessly fired in from the underside of the crossbar by João Mário.

Bruges even had to allow a second Portuguese goal in the final phase. David Neres snatched the ball from Meijer and was able to approach goalkeeper Simon Mignolet unimpeded. The Brazilian former Ajax player did not fail and pushed the ball into the far corner.

For example, it will be an extremely difficult job for the Belgian team of trainer Scott Parker to reach the quarter finals. The return in Lisbon is scheduled for March 7.

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