Led by three goals from striker Gonçalo Ramos and another from Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández, signed this summer from River Plate, Benfica placed their third qualifying round in the Champions League after defeating Danish Midtjylland in Da Luz. (4-1).
Meanwhile, Dinamo Zagreb and Plzen lead 1-2 against Ludogorets and Moldovan Sheriff, Rangers lost 2-0 in Belgium against St. Gilloise and Monaco and PSV tied (1-1).
Benfica decided in the first half
Benfica is the favourite. He left no room for doubt in the first half, when he beat his opponent with three goals scored in 40 minutes. The first two were from Gonçalo Ramos in minutes 17 and 33.
The third was Enzo Fernández, who made his debut for Benfica with a goal in the 40th minute that almost sealed the match.
The team led by Roger Schmidt and Gonçalo Ramos was not satisfied with the 3-0, which still added 4-0 in the playing time. Pione Sisto (ex Celta) reduced the advantage for Midtjylland.
Dinamo Zagreb win in Bulgaria
In Razgrad, northern Bulgaria, Dinamo Zagreb also put their tie against Ludogorets on track within nine minutes. Dino Peric, in the 6th minute, and goalkeeper Sergio Padt with an own goal, in the 9th minute, launched the Croatian team, although Bernard Tekpetey’s 1-2 score kept the tie.
Viktoria Plzen also took advantage (1-2). Pavel Bucha’s header in the 55th minute sealed his return to Sheriff Tiraspol. 1-0 for the locals by Akambi Rasheed from the penalty spot after half an hour of play. The Czech team equalized before the interval with another maximum penalty, converted by Tomas Chory.
For their part, St Gilloise beat Rangers 2-0, last season’s Europa League runners-up. Teddy Teuma opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time and Dante Vanzeir made it 2-0 with a penalty in the 76th minute.
Results of the third qualifying round (first leg)
Tuesday, August 2:
Sheriff (MDA) 1 v Plzen (CZE) 2
Ludogorets (BUL) 1 vs Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) 2
Monaco (FRA) 1 vs PSV (NED) 1
St Gilloise (BEL) 2 – Rangers (ESC)
Benfica (BY) 4 – Midtjylland (DEN) 1
Wednesday, August 3:
Bodo/Glimt (NOR) – Zalgiris (LTU)
Qarabag (AZE) – Ferencvaros (HUN)
Macabi Haifa (ISR) – Apollon (CYP)
Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) – Sturm Graz (AUT)
Red Star (SRB) – Pyunik (ARM)
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
