Champions League - Round of 16 - 2nd Leg
BenficaBenfica5Club BrugesClub Bruges1

Benfica 5-1 Club Bruges (agg 7-1): Scott Parker unsure of future after defeat

Benfica score against Club Bruges
Benfica also reached the Champions League quarter-finals last season

Scott Parker says he is "not sure" he will still be Club Bruges boss following Tuesday's thrashing at Benfica that eliminated the Belgians from the Champions League.

The former Fulham manager faced a difficult task to overturn a 2-0 loss from the first leg.

But he perhaps could not have anticipated such a heavy defeat as they conceded five goals in Portugal for a 7-1 defeat on aggregate.

Parker becomes the first English manager to concede five goals in a Champions League match and, with Club Bruges having won just two games since his appointment at the end of December, he accepts his future is out of his hands.

Asked if he will still be manager for Sunday's league game against Standard Liege, he told BT Sport: "I am not sure. I am not in control of that.

"I understand why you are asking me that question and it has probably been aimed at me for some weeks now.

"I can't really control that. I am not in that position to understand it and you are asking probably the wrong person. What I am is fully committed in trying to turn this around and that is what I will try to do."

Benfica, who won the first leg 2-0, opened the scoring in the first half with a smart finish from Rafa Silva.

Goncalo Ramos then showed great footwork to make it 4-0 on aggregate, before stabbing home from close range.

Joao Mario's penalty and David Neres' finish wrapped up the win before Bjorn Meijer scored a stunning consolation.

It is the second successive season Benfica have reached the Champions League quarter-finals, though they have never progressed further and were beaten by Liverpool at that stage last term.

Scott Parker looks dejected during his side's Champions League defeat
Scott Parker was appointed Club Bruges boss on 31 December 2022

"The result hits us hard," said Club Bruges midfielder Hans Vanaken.

"The way in which it happened was painful too, because we shipped the goals too easily.

"I am emotional because we had a great campaign. You don't want to go out like that."

Club Bruges rarely looked like turning the tie around, with Benfica even having the ball in the net after two minutes through Joao Mario, but it was ruled out for offside.

Despite that early chance, the visitors did well to hold off their opponents for 38 minutes and were starting to look threatening when Silva scored, keeping his cool to control the ball from a cross before slotting in.

From then on Club Bruges capitulated as the tie looked beyond them and another fine finish, this time from Portugal forward Ramos, ended the game as a contest.

Mario's penalty came either side of clinical finishes by Ramos and Neres, but Meijer did at least give the travelling fans something to cheer with an exquisite first-time finish into the top corner.

Since the Champions League was formed, Benfica have lost all five quarter-finals they have played in, but this result and performance will give them hope of taking the next step.

Line-ups

Benfica

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 99Vlachodimos
  • 6BahSubstituted forMoraes Júniorat 63'minutes
  • 66António SilvaSubstituted forVeríssimo da Silvaat 88'minutes
  • 30OtamendiBooked at 29minsSubstituted forRodrigues da Silvaat 74'minutes
  • 3Grimaldo
  • 61Morris Luís
  • 22Lima Silva MachadoSubstituted forNeres Camposat 63'minutes
  • 20João MárioSubstituted forGonçalves Nevesat 74'minutes
  • 27Fernandes Ferreira da Silva
  • 8Aursnes
  • 88Gonçalo Ramos

Substitutes

  • 2Moraes Júnior
  • 4Veríssimo da Silva
  • 7Neres Campos
  • 15Gonçalo Guedes
  • 19Tengstedt
  • 21Schjelderup
  • 24Jumpe Soares
  • 33Musa
  • 65Vela Rodrigues
  • 73Ndour
  • 87Gonçalves Neves
  • 91Rodrigues da Silva

Club Bruges

Formation 3-5-2

  • 22Mignolet
  • 77Mata Pedro LourencoSubstituted forOdoiat 63'minutes
  • 44Mechele
  • 94SyllaBooked at 43mins
  • 19SowahSubstituted forNusaat 75'minutes
  • 17Buchanan
  • 27Nielsen
  • 20VanakenSubstituted forRitsat 75'minutes
  • 14MeijerBooked at 48mins
  • 70YaremchukBooked at 17minsSubstituted forJutglàat 62'minutes
  • 10LangBooked at 20minsSubstituted forOnyedikaat 45'minutes

Substitutes

  • 6Odoi
  • 9Jutglà
  • 15Onyedika
  • 21Bursik
  • 26Rits
  • 28Boyata
  • 32Nusa
  • 68Talbi
  • 98Sandra
Referee:
Halil Umut Meler
Attendance:
60,960

Match Stats

Home TeamBenficaAway TeamClub Bruges
Possession
Home60%
Away40%
Shots
Home20
Away13
Shots on Target
Home8
Away2
Corners
Home2
Away5
Fouls
Home3
Away7

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Benfica 5, Club Brugge 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Benfica 5, Club Brugge 1.

  3. Post update

    Attempt saved. Ferran Jutglà (Club Brugge) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Bjorn Meijer with a headed pass.

  4. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Bjorn Meijer with a headed pass.

  5. Post update

    Attempt missed. Casper Nielsen (Club Brugge) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a set piece situation.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Lucas Veríssimo (Benfica).

  7. Post update

    Antonio Nusa (Club Brugge) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  8. Substitution

    Substitution, Benfica. Lucas Veríssimo replaces António Silva.

  9. Goal!

    Goal! Benfica 5, Club Brugge 1. Bjorn Meijer (Club Brugge) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Tajon Buchanan.

  10. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Ferran Jutglà (Club Brugge) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bjorn Meijer with a cross.

  11. Post update

    Attempt missed. Rafa (Benfica) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Alejandro Grimaldo.

  12. Post update

    Rafa (Benfica) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge).

  14. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  15. Post update

    VAR Decision: Goal Benfica 5-0 Club Brugge (David Neres).

  16. Post update

    Delay in match (Benfica). VAR checking.

  17. Goal!

    Goal! Benfica 5, Club Brugge 0. David Neres (Benfica) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by João Neves.Goal awarded following VAR Review.

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Club Brugge. Antonio Nusa replaces Kamal Sowah.

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Club Brugge. Mats Rits replaces Hans Vanaken.

  20. Substitution

    Substitution, Benfica. João Neves replaces João Mário.

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