Two Portuguese goals gave another victory to leaders PSG and the consequent first defeat at home this season (in all competitions) for the Marseilles, Benfica’s opponents in the quarter-finals of the Europa League
Easter Sunday to forget for Marseille, Benfica’s opponents in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, who suffered their first defeat (0-2) at home this season (in all competitions!) and then against rival PSG, who Vitinha and Gonçalo Ramos were the great heroes of Sunday night’s classic.
After a very uninteresting first half, which was marked by the expulsion of Parisian Beraldo – in an exaggerated decision by the referee (who even consulted the video) in a move that was little more than a shoulder charge on Aubameyang – PSG came in full force in the second half and, in the 53rd minute, the international midfielder scored with his right foot, completing the play he had started and during which he took the ball, leaving it at the edge of the area, on the right, to Dembelé, who returned it , perfectly, midfield and… goal! Fantastic Vitinha!
Watch Vitinha’s goal:
The Portuguese international, who was a starter, along with Danilo Pereira, was then the most prominent player until the end of the match and, for this, the fact that Vitinha was playing in the middle contributed greatly. It really makes all the difference, as he is a player who likes to have the ball and set the pace of the game – in the national team, in the last game in Slovenia, which ended in a 0-2 defeat, he played on the left of the attack and his influence was much reduced…
And after Vitinha, another Portuguese to stand out: Gonçalo Ramos would enter at 65′, replacing a very upset Mbappé – the French international did not stop on the bench, heading directly to the locker room – and, after 20 minutes, he would be the former Benfica striker doing what the French star couldn’t, receiving a beautiful pass from Asensio (who had also entered the game at the same time) to, coolly, shoot to count!
Marseille, who will face Benfica on the 11th of April (at Luz) and the 18th (at the Vélodrôme), stood out for their defensive capacity, especially throughout the first half, when, in a risky positioning with very high lines, they stopped all the rival’s intentions, then appearing with some danger, although failing to finish.
PSG maintains a 12-point advantage over second-placed Brest, while Olympique is seventh, three points behind the European places.
