Benfica overcame Anderlecht 2-0 this evening, in the opening game of the Champions League.
Last year's Europa League runners up were comfortable throughout the match and could have scored more in a dominant first half.
Anderlecht improved after the break but could not quite find the goal to get themselves back into the game.
You can see how the action unfolded with our minute-by-minute coverage below.
Thanks for joining me this evening for a tie which offers an intriguing match-up between two sides in a transitional period.
Benfica, reeling from their dramatic defeat in both the Europa League and Portuguese league last season, have brought in several players including highly-rated Serbian teenager Lazar Markovic.
Anderlecht have scouted well too, signing 19-year-old Ghana winger Frank Acheampong and Spain Under-20 star Fede Vico. They did however, lose two big players in Lucas Biglia and Dieumerci Mbokani over the summer, who left for Lazio and Dynamo Kiev respectively.
It is also worth noting that the Estadio de Luz, where tonight's game takes place, will also stage the final of the Champions League in May, although I would be somewhat surprised if either of these two were to make it that far.
French champions Paris Saint-Germain are the favourites to win this group, with Benfica expected to qualify in second place. A good result for the visitors tonight could really out the cat amongst the pigeons.
I can't see anything other than a home win though, I'm afraid. Benfica have added a player of huge potential in Lazar Markovic, who has already started scoring goals despite being only 19. They've also got the likes of Oscar Cardozo and Nemanja Matic in attack.
Add to that the fact that the Anderlecht defence has conceded 10 goals already this season, and you will realise why I'm picking Benfica!
Anderlecht do have a young in-form striker of their own tonight though. Aleksandr Mitrovic, signed from Partizan Belgrade for €5m (£4.2m) in the summer, scored twice at the weekend but will need to raise his game again in Europe's top competition.
With the attacking talent on show, and the attitude of both sides today, I am confident of a few goals. Preferably an early one to set the ball rolling. One thing that Anderlecht mustn't do though, is drop their heads if Benfica go ahead, then it really could get difficult.
Without further ado, lets get the the teams in...
TEAM NEWS!
Benfica XI: Artur; Andre Almeida, Luisao, Garay, Siquera; Perez, Fejsa, Djuricic, Matic; Cardozo, Markovic
AnderlechtXI: Proto; N'Sakala, Kouyate, Mbemba, Gillet; Kljesta, De Zeeuw, Milivojevic, Suarez; Bruno, Mitrovic
So, it's a Champions League debut for you Lazar Markovic in the Benfica team, who will spearhead their attack alongside the experienced and dangerous Oscar Cardozo.
Anderlecht start with their two-goal hero from the weekend, Mitrovic, in attack, and the youngster will be hoping De Zeeuw, Bruno and Suarez can create enough chances for him.
An amazing, if not all that surprising stat regarding Anderlecht today. The last time the Belgian side won away in the Champions League was in 2005, at Real Betis!
That, along with Anderlecht leaky early-season defence, goes in line with my prediction of a home win, and the score... 3-1 to Benfica.
While Ghana youngster Frank Acheampong makes the Anderlecht bench this evening, there is no place for exciting Spanish starlet Fede Vico. Benfica have a wealth of attacking talent on among their substitutes, including Rodrigo, Lima and Ola John.
That Benfica bench really makes me even more certain that the home side will win this evening. I'm really going to look silly if Anderlecht pull off a shock in Portugal.
Under ten minutes to go until kick off now in the opening round of fixtures for the Champions League, what football fan would not be excited today!
The players are in the tunnel and are ready to make their way onto the pitch, where the crowd are creating an intimidating atmosphere for the visitors.
And now that famous Champions League anthem rings out around the Estadio de Luz. The handshakes are done and we're ready for kick off!
Benfica get us underway...
Anderlecht penned inside their own box early on and are forced to concede and early corner. Matic delivers a clever low cross into the box but Cardozo miss-kicks his effort and the Belgians get the ball away.
Benfica are comfortably playing the ball between their defence and midfield. A clever one-two allows them to break on the right, but Matic's cross evades Markovic and Anderlecht clear again.
GOAL! Benfica 1-0 Anderlecht (Djuricic)
Perez picks the ball up on the right and comes inside before playing a one-two with Cardozo on the edge of the box. The midfielder's shot is spilled by the goalkeeper and Djuricic is on hand to tap the ball in. Terrible start for the visitors!
A clearance from Garay is beautifully flicked into the path of Markovic by Cardozo but the youngster is crowded out inside the box. Benfica look rampant.
Anderlecht spring their first attack as Bruno spins away from Siquera on the right after a good ball from De Zeeuw, but there is no one in the box and Benfica can clear the ball.
Anderlecht trying to take the pressure of their back four with a bit of possession now. Benfica are not letting them out of their defensive third though and force the Belgians to go long.
Benfica keeping the ball in the corner with Matic and Almeida winning a throw-in deep on the right. Anderlecht deal with the long throw though and Kouyate brings the ball out of defence.
The game has quietened down after a very quick start. Benfica are still comfortable on the ball but Anderlecht are seeing more and more of it now, even if it is mainly in their own half.
Cardozo somehow beats the offside trap from a long ball, before skipping past two challenges and cutting the ball back, where there are only purple shirts unfortunately for him, and Anderlecht clear the ball.
Lovely move from Anderlecht, their best of the game, as De Zeeuw finds Bruno, who scoops the ball over the top for Mitrovic, but the youngster can't quite get his cross past the defender. Benfica defend the resulting corner.
YELLOW CARD! Bruno's frustration gets the better of him as he lunges in on a Benfica defender.
SAVE! Superb move from Benfica as Markovic plays a one-two with Matic before skipping past a defender in the box. Cardozo takes it off his toes though and the goalkeeper dives to his right and catches the ball.
Benfica happy to play on the counter-attack at the moment. After a couple of good chances in quick succession, they've taken their foot off the pedal somewhat and are taking a breather.
YELLOW CARD! Perez picks up a silly yellow card for kicking the ball away after the referee's whistle.
GOAL! Benfica 2-0 Anderlecht (Luisao)
Anderlecht fail to deal with a Benfica corner following a good move on the right. The ball is put back into the box and Luisao shows incredible skill, chesting the ball away from his marker and firing past the goalkeeper on the turn!
Benfica are very comfortable here. Just as Anderlecht seemed to be getting back into it, their defence lets them down, not for the first time this season.
YELLOW CARD! Poor challenged from De Zeeuw, who takes out Almeida and rightly receives a booking.
Benfica almost get a third! The ball is flicked on from Djuricic and Cardozo reacts well but can't quite get his effort on target.
Anderlecht trying to play their way back into this game with some neat passing on the left but N'Sakala's cross beats everyone and Benfica can get the ball away easily.
The visitors are struggling to hurt Benfica at all here. The home defence has had very little to deal with and to be honest, their attack has not had to work too hard either, despite a two-goal lead.
Mitrovic leads an Anderlecht counter-attack and side-steps to defenders on the edge of the box, but decides against shooting and sees the ball cleared for a corner, which the Benfica defence deal with easily.
HALF-TIME: Benfica 2-0 Anderlecht
Well, it has gone pretty much as I expected it too in that first half. Benfica have been more than comfortable and find themselves two goals ahead without really having to work that hard.
Anderlecht have showed some neat touches here and there, but haven't done enough in the final third, and just as they were looking like they might get back into it Luisao doubled Benfica's goal with an excellent turn-and-finish.
Mitrovic, the Anderlecht striker, has looked a little too raw for the Champions League so far despite some nice touches, which is understandable considering he only turned 19 yesterday.
That said, Benfica's young forward Markovic has been excellent throughout, ably supported by Perez and Matic, with Cardozo offering a target all the time. There are definitely more goals in this match for the home side.
If, and it is a big 'if', Anderlecht can get the next goal, they might be able to get something out of this match. They've got quality in the final third but unfortunately not quite enough at the moment. On top of that, they've defended poorly.
The players are slowly making their way back onto the pitch for the second half.
Anderlecht get the game going once more...
The Belgian side start fast in the second half. Mitrovic's clever flick releases Frank Acheampong on the left but Artur gathers his drilled cross.
SUBSTITUTION Just to confirm Acheampong replaced De Zeeuw at half time.
Markovic can't quite get on the end of a clever through ball from Matic, as Proto gathers.
Acheampong again wriggling free on the left and running away from Almeida, but once again the defence can clear the ball. The young Ghana winger has really made an impact for the visitors so far in the second half.
Perez is brought down on the right wing by N'Sakala, giving Benfica a free kick in a dangerous position...
Anderlecht are able to clear from Matic's delivery and break on the right. Mitrovic is crowded out though.
Some very stylish football from Anderlecht on the left between Acheampong and N'Sakala. Mitrovic eventually wins the ball at the back post and heads towards goal, but Artur produces and excellent save. It didn't matter though, as the referee had already seen a foul.
The game has an end-to-end feel about it now, and it's actually Anderlecht who are looking the more likely. Almeida manages to get the better of Acheampong for once though and clears the ball.
Djuricic almost gets his second, collecting Cardozo's subtle through ball and firing it towards the far post, but the offside flag is up anyway.
Both sides struggling to keep possession now as the game enters a slightly scrappy phase. Benfica try to break on the right but Perez is crowded out.
Benfica almost have the ball in the net again as Markovic flicks the ball over the defence for Djuricic, who the referee deems as having handled the ball. It looked like a shoulder to me!
SUBSTITUTION: Ola John replaces Perez as Benfica introduce some fresh legs.
YELLOW CARD! Mitrovic is booked for a poor challenge on Matic.
CHANCE! Siquera finds Cardozo free in the box. The striker brings the ball down but slips as he shoots and fires just wide.
Benfica are really waking up again now. Markovic breaks through the middle and sidesteps two challenges before taking too long on the edge of the box and allowing Anderlecht to get the ball away.
SUBSTITUTION: Benfica bring on Maxi Pereira in place on Djuricic as they look to see out the match.
SUBSTITUTION: Anderlecht bring on Denis Praet and Cyriac for Bruno and Mitrovic respectively.
Anderlecht deal with another Benfica long throw. The hosts are on top again now as the Belgians seem to have run out of steam in the final ten minutes.
The home side are passing the ball around their defence and midfield now with Pereira and Almeida on the right. They're not committing too many men forward and are looking to see this game out now.
Acheampong breaks on the left again and beats Pereira, but again Artur can catch the ball. The Benfica goalkeeper takes his time before smashing the ball upfield.
SUBSTITUTION: The final change of the match sees Rodrigo Lima replaces Cardozo for the hosts.
Anderlecht have the ball in the net, but it's disallowed. The ball goes all the way in from a free kick but a number of players are offside in the middle of the box. The assistant referee raises his flag despite none of them touching it and the Belgian side are denied.
SAVE! Artur reacts excellently to push Suarez's header wide from Praet's corner. Benfica clear the second delivery.
FULL-TIME: Benfica 2-0 Anderlecht
Benfica keep the ball for two minutes at the end, passing around the whole pitch and showing their overall superiority.
Anderlecht showed very little this evening and got exactly what they deserved. Even in their more dominant spell for 20 minutes after half time, they rarely threatened Artur in the Benfica goal.
Benfica were not at their best today, but they didn't have to be. They will want, and need, to find another gear against the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, but on tonight's showing, I would expect the Portuguese side to advance from Group C.
Thanks for joining me, and goodnight.
Written by
Daniel Cross
Daniel Cross
