A ruthless Benfica side crushed Club Brugge as goals from Goncalo Ramos, Rafa Silva, Joao Mario and David Neres sealed a 5-1 win on Tuesday.
Benfica advance with easy second-leg win
Ramos, Mario, Silva, Neres on scoresheet
Reach back-to-back quarter-finals for first time
TELL ME MORE: Brugge had recorded three successive clean sheets in Europe away from home but never looked like keeping it that way at the Estadio Da Luz. Joao Mario thought he had put his side in front within a minute before an VAR intervention ruled Goncalo Ramos to be offside in the build-up. Benfica then broke the deadlock after a blistering counter-attack put Rafa Silva through, with the Portuguese star finishing cooly with the outside his boot. Ramos then scored his first of the evening with a fine solo effort of his own just minutes before half-time.
Two down on the night and four behind on aggregate, Scott Parker’s side crumbled as the second half wore on. Ramos scored his second from close range before Brugge centre-back Abakar Sylla inexplicably took out Alexander Bah when the ball appeared to be rolling harmlessly out of play. Joao Mario was on hand to convert from 12 yards to score the his fifth Champions League penalty of the season, the most by a player in a single campaign. Substitute David Neres rounded out the scoring before Bjorn Meijer added a late consolation for the visitors, as Benfica sailed through to the quarter-finals.
