An excellent, intense match, worthy of the Champions League, between two tactically sound and very personalized teams, leaving our mouths watering for the second leg clash.
Benfica and Marseille put up a great show for the neutrals, but a heart-attack-inducing performance for their fans. Both teams went at it with intensity, playing to their strengths and trying to out-perform their opponents at every turn.
Marseille set their team up with a very powerful midfield, certainly fearing Benfica’s most creative players, and led by “El Comandante” Lucho Gonzalez. Benfica played their usual diamond 4-4-2 formation, with due respect to the opponent’s strenght. The game was hectic at times, with Benfica trying to build quick-paced attacks while Marseille tried to pace the game and reach the goal slow but surely. It was a shame that the best goalscoring opportunities for both sides were stopped by the defenses, and only a strange, insisting goal by Pereira for Benfica and a late header from Ben Arfa for Marseille got into the scoresheet.
Benfica could have taken a win from this, but this draw will definitely set up a more exciting second hand match.
