Benfica take all three points with them back to Lisbon after matchday three and see themselves top of Group C at the half way stage. One goal in each half from Bruno César and Óscar Cardozo respectively settled what was, in truth, a fairly even and open match at St. Jakob Park.
The home side started brightly but it wasn’t long before the visitors started to get their foot on the ball and play some tidy football.
They were rewarded after 20 minutes when Gaitán, coming in from the right, exchanged passes with Pablo Aimar before playing it to Rodrigo who let it run through his legs for Bruno César. The Brazilian provided the finish the move deserved, firing low into the far corner.
Basel responded fairly well to the set back, with the lively Xaqiri always looking to make things happen. And it was the 20 year old who set up the Swiss side’s best chance of the first half, in the 39th minute. The ball rebounded to him after an ambitious shot from Emerson and he broke down the pitch before checking back and finding Streller whose shot failed to trouble Artur too much.
Xaqiri himself, moments later, forced Artur into a better save. A low drive from distance had the keeper diving to his left to tip the ball wide for a corner.
The next good chance came Benfica’s way, this time Bruno César the architect. He did well to work the ball to Gaitán but the Argentine’s shot flew over the cross bar.
Streller had another opportunity for Basel with the last kick of the first half but he blazed over after a good first touch with his chest bought space to shoot.
Basel were having the better of the second period when out of the blue a long ball from Benfica captain Luisão found Aimar with space in the penalty area in the 62nd minute. The Argentine, however, opted for the first time shot as the ball fell to him but his volley was tame and easily saved by Sommer.
Seven minutes later a chance fell to Streller once more, after a fantastic pass from Xaqiri, but the tall number nine’s shot was saved at close range by the outrushing Artur.
A couple of minutes later Alex Frei was the next to call Artur into action but his long range effort was comfortably saved.
With around a quarter of an hour of normal time remaining Benfica struck the killer blow. A free kick was awarded right of centre after Huggel was penalised for use of an elbow. Up stepped Óscar Cardozo, subbed on a few minutes earlier for Rodrigo, and he struck it low and hard. The ball sailed under the wall and beat the keeper at his near post. A fine goal.
From that point on it was about Benfica soaking up the host’s pressure, and they did so without too much trouble, despite the dismissal of Emerson in the 86th minute for a second bookable offence.
The left back might feel slightly aggrieved about the first card; Xaqiri went down very easily and although Emerson did put a hand on his chest, it looked soft. The second however was stupidity from the 25 year old Brazilian who is keeping World Champion Joan Capdevila out of the side. Xaqiri again was the victim of the foul, this time off the ball; Emerson clearly impeding his run as he looked to get up the line.
As time wore on Basel grew frustrated and desperate. Xaqiri was booked for a late barge on Bruno César, sparking a furious reaction from the Benfica bench, and Alex Frei was booked for diving.
In the penultimate minute of time added on an ambitious overhead kick from Streller drifted off target, perhaps summing up his and Basel’s night; tried hard but ultimately unsuccessful.
The Good
Benfica’s two excellent goals were worthy match winners.
The Bad and the Ugly
The reaction to Xaqiri’s booking from the Benfica bench saw the manager and one other sent up the tunnel early. It was a petulant foul but it was not as bad as Bruno César made it look. His theatrics get top marks, before the replay I was convinced Xaqiri had kicked out at him, such was the contorted leap and roll he performed, but, as stated above, it was merely a barge. Such antics, sadly, were not uncommon in this game with Xaqiri, Emerson and Frei amongst others guilty of over exaggerating and diving.
The Bright Spark
Although, as already mentioned, a little prone to the dramatic arts that plague modern football, Xaqiri was the stand out player for Basel, and perhaps of the whole game. He was central to everything they did and looked to do something positive whenever he was on the ball. With quick feet, pace, an eye for a pass and the ability to take a man on the Swiss international has a lot of potential. He would do well though, perhaps, to sometimes take the simple option and would definitely be well served in sometimes taking the more selfless option. Too many times he tries the fancy when something easier would have sufficed and too many times he let rip an ambitious shot when keeping the attack going would have benefitted the team more. Of course we want to see skill and great goals in the game, and that is one of the attractions of Xaqiri, but he needs to learn the right time to try it and know that sometimes there are better options. If he can improve on that Basel have a player who could make them a lot of money in the not too distant future.
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