Frankfurt were able to dominate the first half of the game, chasing a 4-2 aggregate deficit. In the second half, Benfica came out stronger, and found more success against Frankfurt’s pressing, which had pinned them back in the first half. Nevertheless, Frankfurt’s direct attack helped them to a second goal, and they were able to […]

This battle between two attacking minded sides promised to be an action-packed Europa League quarter final. The game lived up its promises and was full of intense pressing. Although Frankfurt conceded a penalty and a red card after just twenty minutes, the match did not lose any suspense. Being one man down, Frankfurt stuck to […]

For the second time in two weeks, Ajax and Benfica prove to be very evenly matched teams. Where the first meeting between these two sides was an end-to-end, dynamic affair, the return-leg in this crucial Champions League group stage game was more of ‘a tale of two halves’. In the two weeks since their first […]

This was a truly entertaining, international-level game between two clubs who are not from one of Europe’s ‘Big Five’ competitions. Ajax’s young right-back Noussair Mazraoui turned out to be the unlikely hero of the night, with his deflected long shot in the 93rd minute deciding a very tight, hard-fought game in the hosts’ favor. Make […]