By Anna Italia
Benfica 2 – 1 Juventus 
3′ Ezequiel Garay 73′ Carlos Tevez
84′ Lima
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Juventus coach Antonio Conte battling in this away game at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal suffering a defeat. It’s the Europa League Semifinal First Leg. A positive aspect is seeing forward Carlos Tevez to break his “almost long 5 years” without scoring in European competition. Juventus will have to win the Second Leg at the Juventus Stadium with more than 1 goal to qualify to the Europa League Final.
What a blow! Benfica starting the match scoring in the 3rd minute following a corner! A cold shower for Juventus and now will have to speed up things or risk losing. Taking the corner is forward Miralem Sulejmani. It is Benfica Argentinian defender Ezequiel Garay to score jumping higher than Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci for the headed shot defeating goalkeeper Gigi Buffon touching the ball, but unable to stop it.
Redemption time for Juventus in the 73rd minute! Yep. After five years, forward Carlos Tevez equalizes the game getting the assist by midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah. Tevez making his best fooling two defenders for the final goal defeating Benfica goalkeeper Artur.
In the 84th minute, another blow. Benfica taking back the lead with forward Lima who came as a substitute in the 62nd minute replacing forward Oscar Cardozo. Lima with a right footed shot defeats goalkeeper Buffon.
Here is BENFICA official starting lineup by coach Jorge Jesus:
Benfica: Artur, Luisao, Maxi Pereira, Siqueira, Garay, Sulejmani, André Gomes, Perez, Oscar Cardozo, Rodrigo, Markovic.
Here is JUVENTUS official starting lineup by coach Antonio Conte:
Juventus: Buffon, Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini, Lichtsteiner, Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah, Tevez, Vucinic.
Previous Games Stats Benfica – Juventus
UEFA Cup
| Date | Stage | Match | Result | Venue | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17/03/93 | QF | Juventus – SL Benfica | 3-0
agg:
4-2 |
Turin | Kohler 2, D. Baggio 43, Ravanelli 67 |
| 04/03/93 | QF | SL Benfica – Juventus | 2-1 | Lisbon | Vítor Paneira 11, 80; Vialli 59 (P) |
European Champions Clubs’ Cup
| Date | Stage | Match | Result | Venue | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15/05/68 | SF | Juventus – SL Benfica | 0-1
agg:
0-3 |
Turin | Eusébio 68 |
| 09/05/68 | SF | SL Benfica – Juventus | 2-0 | Lisbon | Torres 63, Eusébio 69 |
Click the video to watch the goal by Juventus forward Carlos Tevez against Benfica in the Europa League Semifinal First Leg, Thursday 24 April 2014
2013 – 2014 UEFA Europa League
Semifinal First Leg
Benfica 2 – 1 Juventus
Thursday 24 April 2014
Estadio da Luz (Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica), Lisbon, Portugal
21:05
| Referee | Cüneyt Çakır (TUR) |
| Assistant referee | Bahattin Duran (TUR) , Tarik Ongun (TUR) |
| Additional assistant referee | Hüseyin Göçek (TUR) , Barış Şimşek (TUR) |
| Fourth official | Mustafa Eyisoy (TUR) |
| UEFA Delegate | Dane Jošt (SVN) |
| UEFA Referee observer | Manuel Mejuto González (ESP) |
Goals: 3′ Ezequiel Garay (B.), 73′ Carlos Tevez (J), 84′ Lima (B.)
Official formations – lineups:
Benfica: Artur, Luisao, Maxi Pereira, Siqueira, Garay, Sulejmani, André Gomes, Perez, Oscar Cardozo, Rodrigo, Markovic.
Subs: Oblak, Jardel, Almeida, Ruben Amorim, Djuricic, Ivan Cavaleiro, Lima.
Coach: Jorge Jesus.
Juventus: Buffon, Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini, Lichtsteiner, Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah, Tevez, Vucinic.
Subs: Storari, Ogbonna, Barzagli, Giovinco, Llorente, Osvaldo.
Coach: Antonio Conte.
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2013 – 2014 UEFA Europa League Semifinal First Leg
Benfica 2 – 1 Juventus |
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| Benfica | Match Stats |
Juventus |
| 2 | Goals | 1 |
| 10(5) | Shots (on goal) | 8(7) |
| 14 | Fouls | 11 |
| 3 | Corner kicks | 6 |
| 0 | Offsides | 5 |
| 52% | Ball Possession | 48% |
| 3 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 4 | Saves | 0 |
What do you think of the results? Which players surprised you or disappointed you and why?