The Red Star - Benfica match: a full report

Red Star lost at home to Benfica in the Champions League

On September 19, 2024, Red Star Belgrade hosted Benfica in a Champions League group stage match. The match was played at the Rajko Mitić Stadium in Belgrade, Serbia. Benfica won the match 2-1.

The match

Red Star started the match brightly and took the lead in the 20th minute through a goal from Mirko Ivanić. However, Benfica equalized in the 35th minute through a goal from Gonçalo Ramos. The match remained level until the 80th minute, when Benfica scored the winning goal through a penalty from João Mário.

The teams

Red Star Belgrade was managed by Miloš Milojević and played in a 4-2-3-1 formation. The team was led by captain Aleksandar Katai and featured several other experienced players, such as Mirko Ivanić, Guélor Kanga, and El Fardou Ben Nabouhane.

Benfica was managed by Roger Schmidt and played in a 4-3-3 formation. The team was led by captain Nicolas Otamendi and featured several talented players, such as Gonçalo Ramos, João Mário, and David Neres.

The atmosphere

The atmosphere at the Rajko Mitić Stadium was electric. The stadium was sold out and the fans were in full voice throughout the match. The match was also televised live in over 50 countries.

The result

The result was a disappointing one for Red Star Belgrade. The team had started the match well and had taken the lead, but they were unable to hold on to their advantage. Benfica was the better team on the night and deserved to win the match.

The implications

The result has implications for both teams. For Red Star Belgrade, the defeat means that they are now bottom of their Champions League group. The team will need to win their remaining matches in order to qualify for the knockout stages. For Benfica, the win means that they are now top of their Champions League group. The team is in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages.