Benfica overturned a one-goal deficit to defeat Atletico Madrid 2-1 in tonight's Champions League match in the Spanish capital.
The Portuguese side were quick onto the attack, and they fired a warning shot in the eighth minute when Jonas skipped past two defenders and struck inches wide of Jan Oblak's goal.
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Atletico soon settled into the game and they came close at the other end minutes later when Tiago Mendes gained possession in the danger zone and let fly, his deflected effort rebounding wide for a corner.
Benfica were on the front foot again in the 16th minute as Goncalo Guedes caught Oblak off his line and attempted a lob, but former Chelsea man Filipe Luis was on hand to hack it away.
The home side took the lead in the 24th minute courtesy of a strike from Angel Correa on his Champions League debut, the youngster drilling the ball home after Antoine Griezmann nodded it into his path.
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Atletico looked odds-on to take a narrow lead into the break, but Nico Gaitan turned up at the back post to smash home Nelson Semedo's cross with nine minutes of the first half remaining to give both sides everything to play for in the second period.
It was Benfica who edged their noses in front after the break, Cuedes arriving in the box unmarked following a swift break to lash one beyond Oblak and give the visitors the advantage.
The home side's best chance to equalise came in the 58th minute when Benfica goalkeeper Julio Cesar pulled off a double save to deny Jackson Martinez and Correra in rapid succession.
There was a last-ditch chance for substitute Fernando Torres to snatch a leveller, but the former Liverpool and Chelsea man could only direct his effort straight at the goalkeeper.
Mark Langshaw
