Goncalo Ramos struck twice to assist Benfica romp to a 5-1 Champions League final 16, second-leg win over Club Brugge on Tuesday in Lisbon and a 7-1 mixture victory.
Ramos, who shot to international fame throughout the World Cup when he was chosen forward of Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal and netted a hat-trick towards Switzerland, arrange the opener for Rafa Silva.
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The 21-year-old ahead then produced two medical finishes both aspect of half-time to make sure the two-time European Cup winners would attain the quarter-finals in consecutive seasons.
Joao Mario struck from the spot to rating in his fifth consecutive Champions League match — Portugal nice Eusebio was the final participant to handle the feat for the membership.
David Neres added the fifth for Benfica earlier than Bjorn Meijer netted a spectacular late comfort.
Roger Schmidt’s ruthless aspect completed high of a bunch containing heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, and made gentle work of Scott Parker’s knock-out stage novices.
“It’s at all times good (to rating), a striker like me makes a residing from that, however an important factor was that we received and performed nicely,” Ramos told Eleven Sports.
“Whoever we get (in the next round), we will play in the same way.”
Benfica have solely been crushed twice all season throughout all competitions and dominated from the outset towards the Belgian guests.
Chiquinho, who has taken Enzo Fernandez’s place in midfield after his Premier League document switch transfer to Chelsea in January, returned from damage for the hosts.
Parker picked Ukrainian striker Roman Yaremchuk towards his former aspect, pairing him with Noa Lang to attempt to spring an unlikely comeback.
Joao Mario, in sparking goalscoring type this season from midfield, netted after simply two minutes with an excellent, flicked end, however the aim was dominated out for an offside within the build-up.
The Portugal midfielder was then foiled by Meijer, who hacked his goal-bound effort off the road.
Eventually the hosts took the lead on the Estadio da Luz via Silva after 38 minutes, picked out nicely within the field by Ramos.
Silva confirmed good shut management to dig out some area and a deft end to beat former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
Ramos steered house the second simply earlier than the break after being teed up by Joao Mario.
He netted a brace on Friday towards Famalicao to assist the Portuguese league leaders preserve an eight-point benefit and was decisive within the field but once more.
Ruthless romp
Ramos surged inside from the left earlier than firing again throughout himself into the underside nook, leaving Mignolet with no likelihood, notching his twenty second aim of the season throughout all competitions.
Close behind him on 20 is Joao Mario, having fun with the perfect goalscoring season of his profession by a distance.
The 30-year-old midfielder slashed a volley narrowly off track early within the second half.
Brugge, who’ve now received simply two of their final 17 video games, have been a shock package deal within the group part and helped eradicate Atletico Madrid, however have been picked aside by the Eagles.
Ramos netted his second earlier than the hour mark with a medical first-time end from Alex Grimaldo’s low cross.
Then Joao Mario’s coolly taken penalty added sheen to the scoreline after Abakar Sylla clumsily fouled Gilberto.
It was the midfielder’s sixth aim of the match, pulling him stage with Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior because the third high scorer, though 5 have come from the spot.
Neres slotted house the fifth on a bruising evening for Parker and his staff, who pulled one again via Meijer, as Benfica proved they are going to be no pushovers within the subsequent spherical.
“The outcome hits us onerous,” said Brugge midfielder Hans Vanaken.
“The manner through which it occurred was painful too, as a result of we shipped the targets too simply.
“I am emotional because we had a great campaign … you don’t want to go out like that.”
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(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed)
