On Wednesday, October 2, 2024, Benfica hosted Atltico Madrid in a highly anticipated Matchday 2 clash of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League at the Estdio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica in Lisbon, Portugal. This match marked a crucial encounter for both teams as they sought to build on their victories from the opening matchday.
Match Details and Viewing Options
The match kicked off at 3 p.m. ET, and fans in the United States could catch the action live on various platforms, including CBS Sports Network, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Paramount+, and ViX. For those abroad, using a virtual private network (VPN) such as NordVPN could help bypass geographical restrictions to access these streaming services.
Benfica, aiming to extend their winning run to five games in all competitions, faced an Atltico Madrid side that was unbeaten across all competitions this season. Benfica had previously defeated Red Star Belgrade 2-1, while Atltico Madrid secured a 2-1 win against RB Leipzig in their opening Champions League matches.
Team News and Lineups
Benfica manager Bruno Lage had to contend with the absence of Renato Sanches due to a muscle injury and Tiago Gouveia with a shoulder issue. The team's possible starting XI included Trubin; Araujo, Silva, Otamendi, Fernandez; Aursnes, Luis, Kokcu; Di Maria, Akturkoglu, and Pavlidis. On the other hand, Atltico Madrid's Cesar Azpilicueta was sidelined with a thigh injury, and Pablo Barrios was a doubt due to a muscle issue. Diego Simeone's side was expected to feature Oblak; Molina, Le Normand, Gimenez, Reinildo; De Paul, Llorente, Gallagher; Griezmann, Alvarez, and Correa.
Match Highlights
The match saw Benfica dominate the proceedings, with Kerem Aktrkoglu scoring the opening goal in the first half. The second goal came from a penalty converted by ngel Di Mara after Vangelis Pavlidis drew a foul in the penalty area. This penalty sealed the win for Benfica, with the final score being 2-0 in their favor.
The victory was significant for Benfica, especially given the context of the revamped Champions League format, which has been a subject of discussion due to player fatigue and the congested schedule. This format, which includes 18 matches this week and six more games through January, has been criticized for its impact on player health, with several key players across different teams facing injuries.
Broader Champions League Context
The Champions League this season has seen several notable matches and injuries. Kylian Mbapp of Real Madrid is expected to miss several games due to a hamstring issue, while Manchester City's Rodri will miss the entire season with a severe knee injury. Barcelona's goalkeeper, Marc-Andr ter Stegen, and Inter Milan's Nicol Barella are also facing significant time on the sidelines due to injuries. These absences highlight the challenges posed by the new format and the need for teams to manage player fatigue effectively.
Other notable matches in the Champions League include Arsenal hosting Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool facing Bologna. The competition also saw Aston Villa welcome Bayern Munich in a rematch of their 1982 European Cup final, marking Villa Park's first Champions League match since 1983.
The UEFA Champions League, one of the most prestigious club football competitions in the world, continues to captivate audiences with its intense matches and high-stakes drama. For more information on the history and format of the UEFA Champions League, you can visit the UEFA Champions League Wikipedia page.
