Benfica and Bordeaux met this evening in the first leg of their Europa League tie, for a place in the quarter-finals of the competition.
The hosts were in excellent form heading into the clash while the visitors were looking to put their recent struggles in Ligue 1 behind them.
Jorge Jesus's side claimed a 1-0 win thanks to an unfortunate own goal from keeper Cedric Carrasso and lead the tie going into the second leg next week.
Find out how that goal unfolded and more in our minute-by-minute commentary below.
Good evening everyone and thanks for joining us for our coverage of tonight's Europa League clash between Benfica and Bordeaux. In what should be a very entertaining game at the Estadio da Luz.
Before we get the pre-match chat started, the team news has just come in and we'll start with the hosts.
BENFICA XI: Artur; Melgarejo, Garay, Luisao, Andre Almeida; Carlos Martins, Roderick, Gaitán; Ola John, Cardozo, Rodrigo Moreno
BORDEAUX XI: Carrasso; Tremoulinas, Henrique, Sane, Mariano; Obraniak, Sertic, Plasil, Faubert; Maurice-Belay; Rolan
So, Benfica boss Jorge Jesus has named quite an attacking lineup for the clash against the French side. Oscar Cardozo leads the line in a three-man attack along with Ola John and Rodrigo who'll provide support from the flanks. The centre of defence will be skipper Luisao and Ezequiel Garay, as the home side will look to prevent Bordeaux from getting that all-important away goal.
No Cheikh Diabate in the Bordeaux lineup tonight as Diego Rolan will lead the attack. Julien Faubert and Ludovic Obraniak will hope to provide for the striker from the wings while adding a goal threat of their own. Ludovic Sane replaces Marc Planus from Bordeaux's defeat to Lille at the weekend and he along with Henruique will look to keep Cardozo and co. at bay.
Right, let's get to some statistics about the teams tonight.
Starting with Benfica. Did you know that they are unbeaten in their last five European games and Jorge Jesus's side haven't lost in 12 Europa League matches at home, winning 11 of those games!
Now Bordeaux's turn. In the four European games they've played against Portuguese opposition they have won two, drawn two. Quite a positive stat for the visitors going into this game.
Now a bad stat for the visitors. We're all about balance here. Bordeaux haven't reached the last 16 of the Europa League since the 2003-4 season. That year, les Girondins got to the last eight of the competition before being knocked out by Valencia.
After going through a bit of a rough patch in February, Oscar Cardozo seems to have found his form again netting three times in his last four games, including in Benfica's 1-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the last round of the competition in the away leg.
Without Cheikh Diabate, Bordeaux could in for a struggle in front of goal and will need another goalscoring performance from Ludovic Obraniak, as he gave in the last round against Dynamo Kiev.
UPDATE! Steaua Bucuresti have beaten Chelsea in the first leg of their Europa League game and will take a 1-0 lead into the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Away from that shocking news to more stats. Benfica are looking to reach the last eight of the Europa League for the third time in four seasons.
Just as we approach kick off some words of wisdom from Bordeaux captain Jaroslav Plasil. "We're going to have to try harder to play our football. In the two matches against Kiev, we didn't manage it. If we play as a team, quickly along the ground, I think we can put them in a tight spot," he told reporters.
Benfica boss Jorge Jesus feels that his side will need to be wary against a fired-up Bordeaux side. "They have more ambitions in Europe than in Ligue 1," he told reporters. "From what I've seen they are putting all their energies into this competition. At this stage there are no weak teams. Bordeaux are not performing well in the league, but they are doing well in the UEFA Europa League."
We should be in for a good game, if those quotes are to be believed. Let's hope we aren't disappointed.
We're underway in the Estadio da Luz.
A long throw into the Bordeaux penalty area causes a bit of panic in the defence but a cool head from Julien Faubert eases any nerves as he heads the ball into the hands of Cedric Carrasso.
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The ball falls kindly to Rodrigo on the edge of the area and he strikes a shot well but the imposing figure of Ludovic Sane is there to block the effort.
Missed opportunity for Ola John as Nicolas Gaitan plays him in. He tries to find Oscar Cardozo at the back post but his cross is easily claimed by Carrasso.
Home side looking dangerous with the ball at the moment. Bordeaux have had a few raids into the Benfica half without really threatening.
Nicolas Maurice-Belay is down and in pain as he's on the receiving end of a hefty challenge from Luisao. No free kick, though. Not quite sure how the referee didn't award one there, plenty of contact with the winger.
CHANCE! Dear me, what a miss! Ludovic Obraniak is through on goal as he's played through down the right. He's uncertain if he's offside, but there's no flag, and as he looks to bare down on goal his first touch lets him down and Ezequiel Garay makes the tackle.
CHANCE! At the other end now as Benfica break and the ball reaches Rodrigo at the back post who volleys across goal but his effort goes just wide. The angle was against him there but he had no other option but to shoot.
CHANCE! End to end game and Jaroslav Plasil almost gives Bordeaux the lead as his through ball goes through the legs of Obraniak and beats Artur but the ball goes the wrong side of the post.
A lot of chances in the space of a few minutes there. Obraniak is popping up all over the pitch at the minute and he'll be kicking himself that he didn't take at least one of those opportunities.
Bordeaux are controlling possession at the moment. Manager Francis Gillot will be delighted with what he's seen so far.
GOAL! Benfica 1-0 Bordeaux (Rodrigo)
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Spoke too soon there! Rodrigo gives the home side the lead with a delightful strike from the edge of the area with his left-foot. His shot curls and smacks the underside of the bar but it bounces out, hits Carrasso and bobbles into the net. Not sure whose goal it will be in the end.
CHANCE! Benfica are almost in again as Cardozo turns on the edge of the area and fires a left-footed shot at goal but this time Carrasso beats away the effort.
It was going all so well for Bordeaux until the 20th minute. Now they're struggling to get a hold of the ball and the home side look a threat every time they push forward.
Maurice-Belay surges forward from midfield and almost frees Diego Rolan in the penalty area but at the last second Luisao makes a crucial intervention, diverting the ball for a corner.
Benoît Trémoulinas makes a good run down the left and lifts the ball into the box where Faubert waits, but in his desperation to get a head on the ball he brings down Melgarejo.
OFFSIDE! Benfica think they've won a penalty when the referee blows his whistle after Cardozo is brought down in the box. However, he indicates the linesman's flag and awards a free kick to the visitors.
Benfica are settling into a little groove with some good possession football, keeping the ball away from the Bordeaux dangermen. The goal was against the run of play as the French side had dominated until that period but fair play to the hosts they're making their lead count.
Bordeaux skipper Plasil is down with an injury after clashing with Rodrigo as he made a good block. He's hobbling off the field and it doesn't look good for the Czech Republic international.
The visitors are coming back into the game slightly but they've definitely lost their early spark. Obraniak maybe feeling quite down following his early misses.
Obraniak's in the action again, as he collects the ball on the left and drives down the flank. He tries to find Rolan in the box but Luisao cuts out the pass.
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SUBSTITUTION: Julien Faubert comes off the field and is replaced by Abdou Traoré, in what looks to be an enforced change. The former West Ham United midfielder's thigh is heavily strapped and it looks as though he may have twinged it.
SAVE! Artur makes a crucial save down to his left to stop Obraniak's effort creeping into the bottom corner. Rolan was lurking nearby and the keeper did well to push the ball far away from the goalmouth.
HALF-TIME: Benfica 1-0 Bordeaux
That's it for the first half and Benfica just edged it I would say. They deserve their lead due to their efficiency in front of goal where Bordeaux have struggled. Obraniak has had his fair share of chances and he should have at least converted one to earn his side a precious away goal.
There are positives for the Francis Gillot as his side played well in bursts throughout the opening period, so they have something to build on. Luisao and Garay have looked fairly solid against Rolan but when Bordeaux bring men up from deep they have troubled the hosts.
At White Hart Lane this evening Tottenham Hotspur are leading Inter Milan 2-0. Check our our half-time report here.
It's goalless in the other ties between Levante, Rubin Kazan and FC Basel, Zenit St Petersburg.
The players are back out on the pitch and we should be back underway shortly.
We're back underway at the Estadio da Luz.
Decent start to the half by Bordeaux as they're keeping possession quite nicely with some quality touches from Plasil who seems to have recovered from his knock in the first half.
SAVE! Cardozo should double Benfica's lead as Rodrigo's header comes back to him on the edge of the box. He let's fly with a left-footed volley but Carrasso is there to make the stop. He gets slightly lucky as his parry lands in the middle of the goalmouth but no red shirt is anyway near.
YELLOW CARD! Carlos Martins goes into the book for the home side. Worth keeping an eye on for the remainder of the game.
SHOT! Very ambitious effort from Benoît Trémoulinas as he raids down the left and fires an effort from about 30-yards out, which sails over the bar.
YELLOW CARD! Rodrigo gets shown a yellow card for dissent to the linesman following scuffle with Trémoulinas for the ball. Silly booking for the 22-year-old.
Rodrigo has a half chance if you can call it that, as he rises highest in the area to head Martins cross at goal but his effort sails over the bar. Difficult chance to take considering his position in the penalty area.
Benfica have the look of a side, feeling they need another goal to take full advantage going into next week. They look a bit anxious when they've been in the final third of late. Bordeaux are starting to creep into half gradually.
INTERVENTION! Maurice-Belay does well to get free down the left and he whips in a dangerous looking cross for Rolan but before it reaches the striker Luisao is on hand to make a crucial tackle preventing the ball reaching its target.
SHOT! Benfica go straight up the field and threaten but Martins shot goes just over the bar as he drilled an effort from just outside the penalty area.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Two changes for Benfica. Surprisingly Oscar Cardozo is withdrawn from the action and is replaced by Eduardo Salvio. Less surprisingly the cautioned Martins is taken off for Enzo Peréz.
CHANCE! Plasil goes close with an effort from the edge of the area which skims across the wet turf and into the hands of Artur. It's a good save considering the tricky conditions.
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SUBSTITUTION: Bordeaux's turn to make a change as former Manchester United striker David Bellion comes on for Rolan.
CHANCE! Salvio is slipped in down the left and beats the challenge of Mariano, he looks to cross for Rodrigo in the middle but he overhits the ball and it goes out for a goal kick. A golden opportunity for the hosts.
A lot of chances again in a short space of time. The last chance for Benfica could have ended the tie but they've given the visitors a lifeline here.
Carrasso comes for the ball from a corner and fumbles the ball at the first attempt lucky for him, no Benfica, player reacts and he's able to gather it at the second attempt.
SUBSTITUTION: Change for Benfica, which is their final sub, Ola John comes off for Brazilian attacker Lima.
Benfica build nicely up the middle and the ball comes to Rodrigo he has Melgarejo to his left unmarked but he just can't pick him out with a pass that would have put him through on goal.
Lima gets the ball just outside the penalty area and shapes to shoot but referee Alon Yefet judges that he unfairly pushed Ludovic Sane out of his path and awards Bordeaux a free kick.
There's not much urgency from Bordeaux to press upfield. They might be happy to go into the second leg with only being a goal behind. Considering they're unbeaten at home in the Europa League this season, that might just play into their hands.
CHANCE! Bellion raids down the right and crosses looking for the run of Fahid Ben Khalfallah, but Roderick gets a foot to the ball, but only as far as Traore but he lifts his volley over the bar.
INTERVENTION! A great sliding tackle from Henrique prevents the ball reaching Lima on a Benfica counter-attack. The ball goes to Carrasso who clears the danger with a big boot up the pitch.
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Is there another goal in this game? Bordeaux look the more likely side to get it at the moment but Benfica look dangerous on the break.
SAVE! Artur make a great save down low to his left to stop a powerful effort from Ben Khalfallah reaching the net. The keeper sticks out a hand and parries the ball while André Almeida is in quickly to clear.
Three minutes of added time indicated at the Estadio da Luz.
SHOT! Grégory Sertic has a crack from the edge of the penalty area but his effort goes just wide of the post without testing Artur.
FULL-TIME: Benfica 1-0 Bordeaux
So, Benfica take a one goal lead into the second leg in France and overall they just about deserved it this evening, thanks to an unfortunate own goal from Cedric Carrasso.
Bordeaux won't be too deterred from this defeat as they had opportunities of their own and had Ludovic Obraniak had his shooting boots with him, the scoreline could have been very different.
For a full account of the biggest plays of the match, check out our report by Rob Summerscales here.
It's still all to play for when the teams clash next week at the Stade Chaban Delmas, where Bordeaux haven't been beaten in the Europa League this season. So there's still hope for Francis Gillot's side.
Thanks for joining Sports Mole this evening for all the action. Make sure you stick around for all the reaction from tonight's games. Until next time, goodbye.
Written by
Simon Sinclair
Simon Sinclair
