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Champions League | Group Stage
Nov 3, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
G

2-1

Jonas (52'), Luisao (67')
Gaitan (85')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Podolski (58')

Live Commentary: Benfica 2-1 Galatasaray - as it happened

:Headline: Live Commentary: Benfica 2-1 Galatasaray - as it happened: ID:255696: from db_amp
Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Benfica's 2-1 win over Galatasaray in Group C of the Champions League.

Benfica have returned to the top of Group C in the Champions League with a 2-1 win over Galatasaray at Estadio da Luz.

Jonas opened the scoring for the home side early in the second half before Lukas Podolski equalised for the Turkish side, but Luisao netted the winner late on.

The Portuguese side finished a man short though as Nicolas Gaitan picked up a second yellow card inside the final 10 minutes.

Read how all the action unfolded below.

Good evening! Benfica will be hoping to return to winning ways in the Champions League this evening, as they host Turkish side Galatasaray, who beat them last time out. Let's start with a look at the teams.
BENFICA STARTING XI: Cesar, Luisao, Eliseu, Silvio, Jardel, Almeida, Gaitan, Jimenez, Jonas, Guedes, Talisca
GALATASARAY STARING XI: Muslera, Chedjou, Balta, Sarioglu, Denayer, Kisa, Inan, Sneijder, Adin, Podolski, Yilmaz
BENFICA SUBSTITUTES: Ederson, Lopez, Cristante, Carcela-Gonzalez, Sanches, Pizzi, Taarabt
GALATASARAY SUBSTITUTES: Gonen, Kaya, Karacan, Oztekin, Colak, Bulut, Gumus
Benfica make one change to the side that lost in Istanbul two weeks ago, with Talisca coming in for the suspended Andreas Samaris.
Meanwhile, there are three changes for Galatasaray from the side that beat Benfica last time out in the Champions League. Burak Yilmaz has shaken off the hamstring problem that limited his involvement two weeks ago, while Jason Denayer is also fit again, and Olcan Adin gets the nod.
Ahead of this meeting, Benfica coach Rui Vitoria told reporters: "Galatasaray will cause us lots of problems. They are on a good run and very experienced. We lost in Turkey, although we were good in some areas. The away match gave us a better knowledge of our opponents.It might have ended differently. We have maximum respect for [Galatasaray] but we know we can beat them. Our last meeting showed that for sure."
Meanwhile, Galatasaray's Hamza Hamzaoglu said at his pre-match press conference: "Benfica have players that can make the difference by themselves. Attack is their strongest department – they do it well as a team – but their defence is not as good. If we don't get a point then Benfica are as good as through so we are aiming for a result that keeps us in the hunt for the next round."
Benfica made a bright start when the sides met two weeks ago, with Nicolas Gaitan opening the scoring inside two minutes. A Sulcuk Inan penalty and a winner from Lukas Podolski handed Galatasaray their first win in the group stage of the competition this season.
Both teams come into this match off the back of big wins in their domestic leagues. Benfica thrashed Tondela 4-0 at the weekend, while Galatasaray cruised to a win by the same margin against Eskisehirspor.
The other two sides in in Group C, Altetico Madrid and Astana, have already played this evening. You can read all about the goalless draw in Kazakhstan here.
PREDICTION! The players are in the tunnel ready to head out for kickoff, so there's just time for a quick prediction. Galatasaray may have won two weeks ago, but they haven't won any of their last 10 away matches in this competition. Benfica are always strong at home, so I'm going for a 2-1 win to the Portuguese side.
The players head out ready for kickoff. The Estadio da Luz is far from full, despite kickoff being just a few minutes away, but the players still receive a hearty welcome.
KICKOFF! Benfica get the action underway.
Galatasaray are on the attack early on, with Podolski making a run down the left before Sneijder flicks the ball in for Sarioglu, but the home side eventually manage to scramble the ball away.
CHANCE! Nicolas Gaitan had an early goal in the reverse fixture, and almost opens the scoring again as the midfielder takes the ball around Chedjou before trying to slice the ball in from a tight angle, but he's a touch too late getting his shot away.
CHANCE! Benfica are through on goal again with Gaitan playing to ball forward for Jimenez. Fernando Muslera does well to block the shot with his legs, before Gaitan fires the rebound wide.
The home side are certainly looking the more likely at the moment as Raul Jimenez makes a charge down the right before cutting the ball back for Gaitan, but the midfielder is quickly crowded out to stop him getting the cross in.
CHANCE! Benfica are continuing to enjoy the majority of the possession, with Jonas flicking the ball into the path of Goncalo Guedes, who takes a touch before driving his effort towards the Galatasaray goal, but it sails just high of the crossbar.
Guedes floats a ball in from the left, trying to beat the keeper at the far post, but Muslera is able to grab it. Galatasaray haven't seen much of the ball so far, but the reverse fixture started like this too, so the visitors won't be too worried so far.
It's still all Benfica as Guedes tries to get on the end of a long ball forward, but finds himself being flagged offside. Silvio gets forward down the right a couple of minutes later before squaring the ball to Jonas, who is being marked by three players, but still manages to get his shot away, only to fire straight at Muslera.
CHANCE! Burak Yilmaz suddenly gets forward on the counter-attack for the visitors, playing the ball in for Sneijder, who in turn connects with Podolski, but his shot is cleared by Eliseu. That's the first time Galatasaray have had the ball in the Benfica penalty area since the opening moments.
Just moments after Galatasaray's shot down the other end, Muslera finds himself having to make another save, with Luisao making a run on the counter-attack before setting up Jonas from the edge of the area, leaving the visiting keeper with a comfortable save.
The visitors force the first corner of the match, as Anre Almeida turns a shot on Sneijder behind. The Dutch international tries his look from just outside the box after Kisa's initialy delivery is cleared, but the low strike lacks power, giving Julio Cesar an easy stop.
CHANCE! Galatasaray are starting to pose more of a threat as Denayer crosses the ball in for Yilmaz, who is unable to get his shot away, but passes to Kisa, who is denied by a deflection from Jardel.
BOOKING! Andre Almeida is the first player in the book this evening for pulling back Bilal Kisa in midfield, although it looks like the Galatasaray player made the most of it.
Benfica force a free kick in a dangerous position as Guedes is floored by a high kick from Sneijder. Gaitan floats the ball in, but there's some pushing and shoving between Yilmaz and Jonas, so the visitors get the ball back.
Eliseu does spectacularly well to keep the ball in play, stopping the ball on the goal line as he controls a long ball forward, but he's unable to set his teammates up with the resulting cross in. Galatasaray quickly press down the other end, but Denayer is penalised for a shove on Guedes. The opening 30 minutes were very open, and played at a good tempo, but the last five minutes or so have just started to fall a little flat.
Benfica are soon back down the other end forcing a corner, but Silvio has his shot blocked as he tries to thump the ball in from Gaiatan's delivery.
BOOKING! Burak Yilmaz is the first Galatasaray player to pick up a yellow card for some shirt pulling and venting his frustrations at an opponent. It means he'll miss their next match in this competition.
BOOKING! The referee is being kept busy as half time approaches, with Guedes going in high on Yilmaz, earning himself a booking.
BOOKING! Well, there's plenty of controversy for the referee here as Burak Yilmaz appears to deliberately handle the ball, just moments after being booked. Nicolas Gaitan is furious that the referee hasn't sent him off, earning himself a yellow card. Lukas Podolski has to drag the Benfica man away from the referee as he continues to vent his frustrations.
HALF TIME: Benfica 0-0 Galatasaray
Boos ring out around Estadio da Luz as the referee blows for half time. The home fans clearly think Galatasaray should be down the 10 men, with Yilmaz lucky to escape a second yellow card late in the first half.
In the opening 45 minutes, Benfica had 53% of the possession, and eight shots to their opponents' five, with three on target, while Julio Cesar has had to make just one save. The home side will have to be careful in the second half though, as they have three players on a yellow card.
Here are some shots from the first half courtesy of Galatasaray:

The players are starting to make their way back out for the second half.
RESTART! The visitors get the second half underway, with neither side making any changes during the interval.
The visitors have made a positive start to the second half, with Sneijder making a run through the middle before curling the ball in towards Yilmaz, but the striker is a touch too quick, drifting offside before heading wide.
Raul Jimenez tries to put the Galatasaray defenders under pressure down the other end, rolling a dangerous ball across the six-yard box, but Gaitan can't quite reach it in time. Both sides have come out attacking at the start of this second half.
GOAL! Benfica 1-0 Galatasaray (Jonas)
The opening goal of the match goes to the home side, with Luisao controlling a free kick into the box, setting up Jonas to smash the ball in from the edge of the six-yard box, leaving the keeper rooted the spot. It's been rather quiet in the Estadio da Luz this evening, but that's brought the home supporters to life.
BOOKING! Selcuk Inan is the latest player to go in the book, with the Galatasaray captain clattering into Jonas. The midfielder is furious with the referee's decision, clearly believing the Benfica goalscorer made the most of it. The booking means the Turkish side will be without their captain in their next match.
BOOKING! The referee reaches for his pocket again as Silvio catches Sarioglu a little late out wide. Once again, it's not the worst challenge, but the Sebian official seems keen to punish every foul.
GOAL! Benfica 1-1 Galatasaray (Lukas Podolski)
Well, the lead didn't last very long for the home side, with Lukas Podolski rifling the ball in to equalise for the hosts. Sneijder plays the through ball for the striker, leaving the former Arsenal man to thump the ball into the far corner from the edge of the box.
Benfica are trying to restore their advantage, forcing a corner down the other end, but Jonas's shot from the resulting set piece is blocked by Hakan Balta.
CHANCE! Jimenez has proved a threat out wide and in the box this evening, but his low drive from the edge of the penalty area drifts just wide of the right post.
CHANCE! Benfica are finding plenty of space on the edge of the Galatasaray box at the moment, but they can't get the ball in towards Gaitan and Jimenez. Talisca lines one out from 20 yards out, but slices his finish inches wide.
GOAL! Benfica 2-1 Galatasaray (Luisao)
What a stunning finish from the defender! Luisao control a looping ball into the box from Jimenez before lobbing the ball into the top right corner. It's the Brazilian's first shot of the match. He does score plenty of goals for a defender, but they're usually headers. That's an absolutely wonderful strike to restore the home side's lead.
SUB! The visitors make the first change of the evening as Yasin Oztekin comes in for Bilal Kisa.
CHANCE! A poor clearance from Chedjou sets up Nicolas Gaitan for a shot near the left-hand side of the penalty area, but the midfielder hesitates, and his shot is deflected behind for a corner.
Galatasaray clear the initial corner, but as the ball is played back in, Hakan Balta charges into Jardel, conceding a free kick right on the edge of the box. The Galatasaray man got absolutely nothing on the ball, but the referee, who has been quite card-happy so far, doesn't book him.
CHANCE! A brilliant double save from Muslera prevents the home side adding a third as the keeper makes a diving save to deny Gaitan from the free kick before turning Jimenez's rebound effort around the post.
SUB! The home side make their first change as Moroccan Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez comes on for his Champions League debut, replacing Goncalo Guedes.
SUB! There's another change for the visitors as well with Jason Denayer heading off to be replaced by midfielder Emre Colak.
SUB! The changes are coming thick and fast, with a change up front for Galatasaray as Burak Yilmaz is replaced by Umut Bulut.
Benfica continue to look the more likely as Jonas slips through on the left before attempting to square the ball to Gaitan, but a rare sloppy first touch from the midfielder sees the ball go out for a goal kick.
Here's a look at Luisao as he scored what at the moment will be the winning goal:

Bulut gets his first chance since coming off the bench for the visitors, but he can only send the ball wide. It's the first time Galatasaray have got the ball down the other end since Podolski equalised.
SUB! Benfica make their second change as Pizzi comes off the bench in place of the opening goalscorer, Jonas.
Galatasaray are starting to show a bit more intent as they press for a late equaliser. Balta comes out from the back to try to add something going forward for the visitors, but the ball ends up going behind for a corner.
CHANCE! Benfica almost score the perfect counter-attacking goal as Gaitan brings it all the way out, rounding two defenders before picking out the arriving Jimenez with a backheel, but Muslera makes a stunning save to deny the home side a third. That would have been a spectacular goal.
RED CARD! Nicolas Gaitan
Benfica will finish the match a man short as Nicolas Gaitan picks up his second yellow card of the night for catching the heels of Emre Colak. He's fuming, as his first yellow came during protests at Yilmaz's lack of red card in the first half.
CHANCE! Galatasaray can sense a chance now that their opponents are a player short. Selcuk Inan hits the ball first time from the edge of the box, but the captain's strike goes just wide.
Benfica quickly press back down the other end, looking to ease the pressure on their defenders. Carcela-Gonzalez tries to fire the ball through, but Muslera is swiftly off his line to clear the danger.
Sneijder tees the ball up for Bulut, who gives chase, clattering into Julio Cesar in the process, but it's the Benfica keeper who comes away with the ball safely in his hands, as well as a free kick.
Galatasaray have four minutes of stoppage time to try to find the elusive equaliser, but it's the 10 men of Benfica who have the ball.
CHANCE! Julio Cesar saves an effort from Umut Bulut, before Yasin Oztekin tries to smash in the rebound, but Luisao is back to make the block on the line.
SUB! The home side make their final change as Talisa is replaced by Bryan Cristante.
BOOKING! Olcan Adin goes in the book late on for a clash with Pizzi.
Aurelien Chedjou tries a rather ambitious effort from long range, but it's well high, and that should be about it.
FULL TIME: Benfica 2-1 Galatasaray
So, Benfica reverse the scoreline from two weeks ago, claiming a 2-1 win over Galatasaray thanks to a winner from Luisao, which ensures that the Portuguese side return to the top of Group C.
The home side will be happy to have the three points, but disappointed that Nicolas Gaitan, who is there top scorer in this competition so far, will be missing next time out after being sent off late on.
That's all from this match, but you can catch up on all of tonight's results on our Champions League page, and join us again tomorrow when the other 16 teams will be in action. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye.

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