Benfica passed the Rio Ave test, but it was not easy, with goals from Rafa at 3 ‘, João Félix at 45 + 1’ and Pizzi at 56 ‘from the second half secured the victory at Vila do Conde. On the side of Rio Ave, they marked Tarantini and Ronan.
Benfica only needs a tie in the Luz Stadium in front of Santa Clara, to become the national champion. SportTV announced that the matches of the 34th matchday of the championship will take place on May 18, Saturday at 18:30. Benfica will host Santa Clara at the Luz Stadium and there will be a classic between FC Porto and Sporting. Both games start at the same time.
The game
Benfica started the passionate game and opened the scoring in the third minute for Rafa, who is in fantastic shape.
Rio Ave did not let down and showed that the draw against Porto was not luck and gave a fight to Benfica. Attack after the attack, Rio Ave was showing that was not there to see the play, and Tarantini even put the ball inside the goal in the 24 ‘but was out of play.
At the end of the first half, Gabrielzinho falls into the area and Rio Ave calls a penalty, unmarked and following the move, timely John Félix takes advantage of an error of Leo Jardim to increase the advantage, on loud protests from the home players. The referee Hugo Miguel appealed to the VAR and validated the second goal of Benfica.
In the second half, five minutes into the second half, Rio Ave’s header narrowed after Nuno Santos’s shot, Tarantini reduced to 1-2.
Even Rio Ave fans celebrated and Pizzi on the right marked the third for Benfica. But Benfica fans still had to suffer, as Ronan still reduced to 2-3 in the 84th minute, and Rio Ave’s equalizer against Porto is still fresh in their memories.
A very difficult victory over a Rio Ave to play very well, which leaves Bruno Lage’s Benfica almost with the hand in the championship in the next and last round of the championship.
