Europa League
Arsenal

Arsenal v Benfica - as it happened

Paul Singh 3 years ago 7.6k |

Reading time: minutes

Arsenal v Benfica, Europa League 2020/21, last 32, 2nd leg, 25/2/2021. Official line-ups. BESOCCER
Arsenal v Benfica, Europa League 2020/21, last 32, 2nd leg, 25/2/2021. Official line-ups. BESOCCER
Join us for live coverage of the Europa League last 32 second leg tie between Arsenal and Benfica from the Giorgios Kariaskakis stadium in Athens. The match was moved from London due to coronavirus travel restrictions. It was 1-1 in the first leg in Rome so Benfica have to score.
Goal

List of goalscorers

P. Aubameyang
21'
1 - 0
1 - 1
43'
Diogo Gonçalves
1 - 2
61'
Rafa Silva
K. Tierney
67'
2 - 2
P. Aubameyang
87'
3 - 2
Press

Match report in news

End of match

End of match

  • 95'
    FT: Arsenal 3-2 Benfica (agg 4-3)!!! All over in Greece and the Gunners make it through in dramatic fashion!!! Auba put Arsenal ahead, but Diogo's free-kick made it 1-1. In the second half, it looked it could go to ET until Silva punished Ceballos' second error of the game. Arsenal needed two, Tierney scored and then Auba's second in the 87th minute gave Arsenal the win.
  • 95'
    Benfica throwing everything forward, but they can't find a way through.
  • 93'
    Benfica off the post!!! Tavares' ball in is headed by Silva and the ball strikes the post!! The flag was up, but that was very close!
  • 92'
    You get the feeling Benfica thought it was all over when they made it 1-2.
  • 91'
    Four added minutes.
Substitution

Substitution

at Benfica
Substitution

Substitution

at Arsenal
  • 90'
    Arsenal double sub: Elneny and Chambers on for Saka and Odegaard.
Substitution

Substitution

at Benfica
Substitution

Substitution

at Arsenal
  • 90'
    Benfica sub: Weigl is replaced by Waldschmidt.
Goal
Goaaaaaal!
de Arsenal en el 87'
  • 87'
    Auba does it for the Gunners!!! Saka sends a lovely ball in from this far side and Auba heads in at the far post. He looks just onside, but VAR is checking.
  • 87'
    Benfica go up the other end through Tavares and it's cleared.
  • 86'
    Arsenal attack down the far side through Tieney and his cross is headed away.
Substitution

Substitution

at Benfica
  • 85'
    Benfica sub: Tavares on for Grimaldo.
  • 84'
    Still 2-2 and Arsenal are not looking like scoring.
  • 80'
    Benfica attacking now as well as they know they can't just sit back.
  • 78'
    Arsenal sub: Lacazette on for Bellerin.
  • 77'
    Saka!!! Leite passes the ball straight to Arsenal, but Saka hits he sidenetting.
  • 76'
    Another error by the Gunners sees Pìres get on the ball, but his pass to Silva is too strong.
  • 75'
    Auba is caught offside again.
  • 73'
    Nunez!!!! The Uruguayan goes forward, gets past Gabriel and then hits wide of Leno's right hand upright!
  • 72'
    D Luiz has a shot now which goes wide of the goal!
  • 71'
    Tierney's ball in is dealt with by Benfica.
  • 70'
    It's been all Arsenal since the goal and they are looking for another.
Goal
Goaaaaaal!
de Arsenal en el 67'
  • 67'
    Tierney scores for the Gunners!!! Willian gets the ball on the far side, he passes to Tierney who hits across Leite into the far corner.
  • 66'
    Willian looks to find Auba, but his pass is blocked.
  • 63'
    Ceballos was at fault for both goals as he gave away the free-kick for the first goal as well.
Substitution

Substitution

at Arsenal
  • 63'
    Arsenal sub: Willian and Thomas on for Ceballos and Smith-Rowe.
Goal
Goaaaaaal!
de Benfica en el 61'
  • 61'
    Rafa Silva scores for Benfica after a howler by Ceballos!!! A long ball forward by the keeper is headed back by Ceballos, it's woefully underhit, Silva picks up' the loose ball, goes around Leno and taps into an empty net!
  • 60'
    Corner for the Gunners here.
  • 59'
    Bellerin's ball in sees Auba go down, but no penalty is given.
Substitution

Substitution

at Benfica
  • 57'
    Benfica triple sub: Nunez on for Seferovic, Everton on for Pizzi and Gabriel Pires on for Taarabt.
  • 57'
    Bellerin sends a ball in and Verissimo heads away.
  • 55'
    Arsenal having some ball now, but Benfica block the pass.
  • 52'
    Pixxi looks to find Diogo, but he can't control it.
Goal disallowed

Goal disallowed

  • 50'
    Aubameyang scores for Arsenal after a lovely pass by Odegaard, but Auba is just offside. VAR confirms the call.
  • 48'
    The Portuguese side are looking better so far here.
  • 47'
    Benfica go forward down this near side, but Arsenal cut it out.
  • 46'
    The second half is back underway!
  • 45'
    HT: Arsenal 1-1 Benfica (agg 2-2)! Half-time in Greece and it's all score. It was fairly even, but then Auba put the Gunners ahead after a lovely Saka pass. Arsenal were then comfortable, but a lovely Diogo free-kick saw the Portuguese side pick up. As it stands, we'll have ET. Back for more shortly!
  • 45'
    45+1: It's dealt with, but Benfica are still threatening.
  • 45'
    One added minute.
  • 45'
    Benfica win themselves a corner now.
  • 44'
    They did not look like scoring, but a stunning set piece means it's all square. As it stands, we go to ET, but if Benfica score, Arsenal need 2.
Goal
Goaaaaaal!
de Benfica en el 43'
  • 43'
    Diogo!!!! You beauty!! What a goal to equalise!!! He hits the free-kick over the wall and into Leno's top right hand corner! The Gemran had no chance.
  • 42'
    Ceballos brings down Weigl just outside the box and this is in a dangerous area.
  • 41'
    Saka!!! Clear opportunity for the Gunners as Ceballos plays in Saka, his shot is saved by Leite's foot, but the flag was up.
  • 38'
    Aubameyang is caught offside now.
  • 37'
    Still 1-0 and Arteta will be very happy with proceedings.
  • 35'
    Shots: 4-2.
  • 34'
    Vertonghen!!! Pizzi's free-kick picks out the former Spurs man who heads over.
  • 33'
    Benfica have got themselves a free-kick on this near touchline now.
  • 32'
    Verissimo sends a ball forward which finds nobody.
  • 31'
    Free-kick to the Gunners after a foul by Verissimo.
  • 28'
    Tierney's ball into the box is headed away.
  • 27'
    Arsneal are looking comfortable here now.
  • 24'
    Ceballos passes to Tierney, his cross hits Diogo and Ceballos hits well wide.
  • 23'
    That's an important goal for Arsenal as a Benfica goal means it's only extra-time.
  • 20'
    Auba scores for the Gunners!! Saka plays a lovely through ball to the Gabonese, the keeper comes out and he chips it over him. It's just onside.
  • 19'
    Arsenal attack down this near side, Smith-Rowe can't get a shot off. Then Benfica counter, but a slip costs them.
  • 18'
    Pizzi looks for a one-two with Rafa Silva which does not come off. Benfica pressing again.
  • 16'
    It's 0-0 so far and I think it's very fair.
  • 14'
    Lovely pass by Grimaldo to Seferovic, but he seems to aim for a square pass instead of a shot! Should have done much better.
  • 12'
    Diogo passes to Silva in the box, but his ball is then cut out.
  • 10'
    Half-chance for the Gunners and the effort is simple for the GK.
  • 10'
    Arsenal are starting to have some more ball now.
  • 8'
    Arsenal go forward now, Aubameyang gets into the box, but his effort is poor.
  • 6'
    Tierney goes down Benfica's right now, but his cross is poor.
  • 6'
    No major chances so far, but Benfica played more positively. That is expected as they have to score.
  • 4'
    Benfica having the better of the play so for. Digo goes down this near side, Silva takes a poor touch and then Taarabt makes a foul on Gabriel. He's deservedly booked as well.
  • 1'
    Arsenal get us going from right to left in their usual colours! Benfica in black.
Start of match

Start of match

  • PRVW
    The players are out here.
  • PRVW
    Arsenal lost 0-1 v Man City in their last match while Benfica drew 0-0 at Farense.
  • PRVW
    Arsenal make one alteration from the first game. Tierney is in for Cedric Soares.
  • PRVW
    Benfica make two changes from the first leg. Waldschmidt and Nunez are replaced by Rafa Silva and Seferovic.
  • PRVW
    17 degrees in Greece this evening.
  • PRVW
    Bjorn Kuipers of Holland is the referee while Pol van Boekel is the VAR.
  • PRVW
    It was 1-1 in the first leg and away goals count so Benfica need a goal this evening.
  • PRVW
    Benfica XI: Leite (GK); Vertonghen, Otamendi, Verissimo; Grimaldo, Weigl, Taarabt, Goncalves; R Silva, Seferovic and Pizzi.
  • PRVW
    Arsenal XI: Leno (GK); Tierney, Gabriel, D Luiz, Bellerin; Saka, Xhaka, Smith-Rowe, Ceballos, Odegaard; Aubameyang.
Info

Pre-match

25 February 2021, 18:55

Referee: Björn Kuipers

Stadium: Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis

  • PRVW
    Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Europa League clash between Arsenal and Benfica!