Portuguese champions Benfica enjoyed a successful dress rehearsal for the Champions League encounter with FC Bayern. Four days before the quarter-final first leg at the Allianz Arena the Lisbon giants posted an impressive 5-1 victory over fourth-placed Braga on Matchday 28, maintaining their lead over local rivals Sporting in the table.
Kostas Mitroglou (17), Jonas (37, pen) and Pizzi (40) wrapped things up before the break for the hosts at the Estadio da Luz. Mitroglou (72) and Andreas Samaris (75), who was brought on after the hour mark, extended the lead before Pedro Santos (93) scored a stoppage-time consolation goal for the Europa League last eight hopefuls from Braga.
“It was a brilliant display and a deserved victory today,” declared Benfica coach Rui Vitoria after the final whistle. “These are three important points for us. Now we’ll focus on the match away to Bayern. It's going to be very hard, but we're prepared for this challenge.”
Benfica line-up against Braga:
Ederson - André Almeida, Lindelof, Jardel (Nélson Semedo 79), Eliseu - Fejsa (Samaris 65), Renato Sanches, Pizzi, Gaitán (Carcela 76) - Jonas, Mitroglou
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