Ezequiel Garay's goal put the result beyond doubt. In the event, the Serbian was present in the starting XI and showed all the industry and drive that anyone could hope for. The morning edition of O Jogo suggested that key midfielder Nemanja Matic had refused to either train or play, to protect himself from accidents ahead of an anticipated move to Chelsea. Whether lifted by the need to produce for the occasion or simply focused on the job in hand, they never looked like faltering. Going into this game, Benfica were on their worst-ever run in confrontations with Porto, who were unbeaten in the last seven Liga fixtures between the two. ![]() The home fans applauded Eusebio from the pitch and Porto's coach Otto Gloria - who went on to manage Eusebio at Benfica between 19 - hugged him when he got to the touchline.Īs flags bearing images of the great man were flown, it was worth the home players taking them in for some inspiration. Having scored one direct free-kick, he was ordered off by referee Porfirio da Silva for taking another in the second half before the referee's whistle. The one sending-off of Eusebio's career was in a classico, at the Estadio das Antas (the Dragao's predecessor) in October 1964. Rightly noted as a great sportsman, he was also a fierce competitor and knew this fixture as well as most, having taken part in it on 33 occasions. ![]() O Rei - "The King" - would have understood. In this unusually early Sunday kick-off, Benfica looked for the win against their bitter rivals Porto - one that would take them top - as the best means of remembrance. Yet there was a sense that the real goodbye had been said, in-house, with Monday's funeral that took Eusebio's body from his spiritual home at the Luz to the cemetery at Lumiar. ![]() Club president Luis Filipe Vieira has closed off the area around the statue at the Estadio da Luz, avalanched in scarves and other tributes, while Benfica's shirts will carry an image of Eusebio on them from next season. Of course, the gratitude for Eusebio will continue. If neither of these giants have truly convinced this season, Benfica coach Jorge Jesus looks more likely to find redemption from the demoralising blow-out of last season's end than Paulo Fonseca does of convincing the masses that he truly has what it takes to be a Porto coach of note. It ended in a raucous O Classico triumph, with champions Porto firmly put in their place in a typically feisty encounter, beaten 2-0. Fans held up pieces of black material to make a mosaic of mourning, a film of A Pantera Negra was shown to a soundtrack of "My Way" and a minute's silence was well observed, despite the unwelcome shouts of a (mercifully) few idiots. LISBON - Under teeming Lisbon skies, Benfica's first game since the death of the great Eusebio began with according respect and sobriety.
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