Match report

Benfica Defeats Ajax 1-0 in UEFA Champions League

Ajax
Ajax
0–1
FT
Benfica
Benfica
Mar 15, 2022

Benfica secured a narrow but crucial win over Ajax in the UEFA Champions League. Despite facing stiff competition at home, Darwin Núñez's goal in the second half was enough to edge out Ajax and keep Benfica's hopes alive.

Key Facts

  • • Final score: Ajax 0–1 Benfica
  • • Goal scorer: Darwin Núñez (77')
  • • Yellow cards: G. Ramos (67'), Jurriën Timber (83'), D. Blind (94+)
  • • Substitutions: Soualiho Meité, Éverton, Diogo Gonçalves for Benfica; S. Berghuis, Edson Álvarez, M. Kudus for Ajax

Lineups

Ajax

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 24 A. Onana (G)
  • 17 D. Blind (D)
  • 12 N. Mazraoui (D)
  • 21 Lisandro Martínez (D)
  • 2 J. Timber (D)
  • 4 E. Álvarez (M)
  • 8 R. Gravenberch (M)
  • 10 D. Tadić (M)
  • 23 S. Berghuis (M)
  • 22 S. Haller (F)
  • 11 Antony (M)

Substitutes

  • 6 D. Klaassen
  • 18 B. Brobbey
  • 20 M. Kudus
  • 30 M. Daramy
  • 33 P. Tytoń
  • 31 N. Tagliafico
  • 19 Z. Labyad
  • 51 C. Setford
  • 9 Danilo
  • 3 P. Schuurs
  • 25 K. Taylor
  • 15 D. Rensch

Benfica

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 99 O. Vlachodimos (G)
  • 5 J. Vertonghen (D)
  • 30 N. Otamendi (D)
  • 2 Gilberto (D)
  • 3 Álex Grimaldo (D)
  • 49 A. Taarabt (M)
  • 27 Rafa Silva (M)
  • 28 J. Weigl (M)
  • 7 Éverton (M)
  • 9 D. Núñez (F)
  • 88 Gonçalo Ramos (M)

Substitutes

  • 11 S. Meïté
  • 15 R. Yaremchuk
  • 17 Diogo Gonçalves
  • 55 Paulo Bernardo
  • 22 V. Lazaro
  • 23 N. Radonjić
  • 20 João Mário
  • 31 Gil Dias
  • 39 Henrique Araújo
  • 34 André Almeida
  • 91 Morato
  • 77 Helton Leite

Timeline

  1. Benfica
    46' Benfica subst · Substitution 1
    Off: A. Taarabt · On: Soualiho Meïté
  2. Benfica
    67' Benfica Card · Yellow Card
    G. Ramos

    Foul

  3. Benfica
    72' Benfica subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Éverton · On: R. Yaremchuk
  4. Benfica
    77' Benfica Goal · Normal Goal
    D. Núñez · Assist: A. Grimaldo
  5. Ajax
    81' Ajax subst · Substitution 1
    Off: S. Berghuis · On: D. Klaassen
  6. Ajax
    81' Ajax subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Edson Álvarez · On: B. Brobbey
  7. Benfica
    81' Benfica subst · Substitution 3
    Off: D. Núñez · On: Diogo Gonçalves
  8. Ajax
    83' Ajax Card · Yellow Card
    Jurriën Timber

    Foul

  9. Benfica
    90'+1 Benfica subst · Substitution 4
    Off: G. Ramos · On: P. Bernardo
  10. Benfica
    90'+1 Benfica subst · Substitution 5
    Off: Gilberto · On: V. Lazaro
  11. Ajax
    90'+4 Ajax Card · Yellow Card
    D. Blind

    Argument

  12. Ajax
    90'+6 Ajax subst · Substitution 3
    Off: Jurriën Timber · On: M. Kudus

Match Stats

Stat Ajax Benfica
Fouls 13 11
Pass Accuracy 84% 65%
Offsides 4 2
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 16 4
Corners 10 4
Total Passes 596 277
Yellow Cards 3 1
Blocked Shots 3 0
Shots on Target 2 1
Shots off Target 11 3
Possession 69% 31%
Accurate Passes 503 180
Shots Inside Box 11 4
Saves 0 2
Shots Outside Box 5 0

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Darwin Núñez's goal in the 77th minute provided a turning point as it gave Benfica the lead and control over the game.
  • ▸ Multiple substitutions by both teams in the latter stages of the match, including key changes by Ajax towards the end, did not change the momentum significantly.