Basel 0-2 Benfica: Jorge Jesus' side go top of Champions League Group C after confident win in Switzerland

Benfica recorded an impressive 2-0 victory over Basel at St Jakob-Park thanks to goals from Bruno Cesar and Oscar Cardozo.

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Both sides had a number of opportunities but it was Jorge Jesus’ men who made them count. The first came after 20 minutes when some slick passing by Pablo Aimar and Nicolas Gaitan allowed Cesar to slot home from the edge of the area.

Cardozo had only been on the pitch a few minutes when his low 25-yard free-kick found its way past Yann Sommer. Benfica were reduced to 10 men in the 86th minute after Emerson was shown a second yellow for a tackle on Xherdan Shaqiri, but it was too late for the hosts to take advantage.

As the first half progressed, Benfica looked to be in control of the game, but the Portuguese giants’ attackers struggled to find shooting opportunities. Shaqiri looked dangerous throughout the match and created Basel’s best chance of the first half just before the half-time interval.

After a darting run down the right, the young Switzerland international found captain Marco Streller, who had time, but could only shoot straight at Artur. Soon after, Shaqiri was denied by the Benfica post and Streller had the last kick of the half when he shot over the Benfica bar from the edge of the area.

Heiko Vogel’s troops tried to inject some pace to their game in the second half and Shaqiri continued to cause problems for the Benfica defence, attempting to set-up Streller and Alexander Frei on a number of occasions. But it was Benfica, who had left talisman Oscar Cardozo on the bench, who continued to impress, with Aimar coming close.

Basel’s best chance of the game came in the 68th minute. Shaqiri’s well-timed pass found Streller in the area, who controlled the ball with his chest before shooting from just outside the six yard box. The Swiss champions’ were only denied an equaliser by some fine goalkeeping from the Brazilian Artur.

The next game in Group C sees the return of Tuesday’s fixture in Lisbon. Benfica will go into the game as group leaders on seven points, with Basel in need of victory to make their chance of progression to the knock-out stage likely.