Last season, we saw Benfica drop three different championships in fifteen days in what would be a cataclysmic fall. This season it was a different story for Portugal's most storied club as they have already claimed the number one spot in their domestic league competition to make it it's 33RD title and now they've claimed the Taca De Liga title with a 2-0 win over Rio Ave. They still have the Europa League title and Taca De Portugal to claim later this month. If Benfica continues to play the way they do, then there is no doubt they have a chance to win all of the trophies this year for the purposes of redemption. Jorge Jesus had his lineup that he would love to see the Europa League final, but due to either culminations of yellow cards and red cards, Salvio, Perez, and Lazar Marković will not be there. The best chance of the game for Rio Ave came in the 5TH minute of the game and then that was really it for them as Benfica controlled most of the tempo.
In the 40TH minute of play, Benfica would strike first when Rodrigo was able to control a ball that was sent into the box on a corner kick and he blasted it into the back of the net. From that point on, Benifca were in firm control of their own destiny creating chances whenever possible. In the 78TH minute of play after the free kick was launched into the box, it would find the head of Luisao who was able to beat out the Rio Ave goalkeeper before he could get to the ball for the second and final goal of the game. Benfica is playing in a way that is unmatched in Portugal and they proved it tonight on the pitch. The next game for Benfica will be rivals Porto for what will be the fourth time this year and they'll follow that with the big game against Sevilla on May 14TH. Can Benfica finally break the curse of Béla Guttmann and win a European title? Only time will tell, I'll see you then.
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