Led 2-0 then reduced to 10 for twenty minutes, SL Benfica still reached the hard rock stadium with a point. To the chagrin of Boca Juniors.
Benfica did not succeed in the club World Cup, but did not completely missed him either. Opposed to Boca Juniors who seemed to evolve at home in view of the atmosphere put by his supporters, the incarnados were quickly put in difficulty. After less than half an hour, the Argentinian club already led two goals to zero, in particular thanks to a realization by Rodrigo Battaglia, former player … of Sporting CP.
Overwhelmed -and not helped by the starting composition of Bruno Lage, which has surprised Kerem Akturkoglu and Orkun Kokcu for the benefit of Bruma and Renato Sanches -, the LisBoets were able to count on the malice of Nicolas Otamendi. On a corner, the Argentinian international knowingly sought that a Boca player commits a fault on him; what worked. Penalty: Angel Di Maria took care of transforming it to reduce the score (45+3 ′).
In the second half, the meeting was much more muddled. The faults have multiplied and the tension has continued to increase over the minutes. Ander Herrera, who was not present on the lawn, received a first red just before half-time, before Endea Belotti also received one, 20 minutes from the end of the match, leaving his teammates at 10 against 11. But the tireless Otamendi went there, on a corner once again, to propel the leather at the bottom of the nets (84 ′). Three minutes later, Nicolas Figal from Boca also received a red.
Two goals everywhere, the two teams leave each other back, before two diametrically opposite deadlines. On June 20, Benfica will face Auckland City, which Bayern Munich whipped 10-0, while Boca will cross the iron with the Germans. Then conversely four days later.
Benfica and Boca Juniors are leaving back-to-back (2-2). 🔴⚪️
📅 The band to Bruno Lage will face Auckland City in three days, before completing its group phase with Bayern Munich on June 24. pic.twitter.com/g7RU4D4aYf
– The corners 🇵🇹 (@asquessoff) June 17, 2025
Photo by Sandra Montanez/Getty Images
