Hello, I am James Butler and I will be providing a running live blog including all the 17:45 UEFA Europa League knockout games. I will be focusing on Toulouse vs Benfica at the Stadium de Toulouse while also providing updates about what’s happening in the other games. Bringing a slender lead to France, Benfica seeks to finish the job against Toulouse in the second leg of their Europa League playoff. The Portuguese champions emerged triumphant by a 2-1 scoreline in last week’s opening encounter, where a pair of second-half Angel Di Maria penalties did the damage.
1 min We’re underway at the Stadium De Toulouse!
2 min Joao Neves is fouled inside his own penalty area.
7 min A long-range effort from Vincent Sierro is comfortably saved by Anatoliy Trubin.
GOAL NEWS: BENJAMIN BOURIGEAUD!!! Rennes have an early lead as they look to claw back the 3-0 deficit on aggregate.
14 Min The game’s first corner goes to the home side, and Silva heads clear.
15 Min The referee penalises Donnum for a foul on Joao Mario as he receives the first yellow card of the game.
19 min Great work from Dessler as he finds Thijs Dallinga in a pocket of space who delivers a neat cross towards the back post as the shot comes in from Suazo but the linesman puts his flag up.
GOAL NEWS: LUKA JOVIC! He’s levelled the scoreline on the night whilst restoring the Rosserneri’s three goal advantage!
23 Min Yann Gboho draws a freekick in the middle of the field after a fantastic dribble, as Moussa Diarra has to come off due to injury and is replaced by Kevin Keben.
Embed from Getty Images27 Min Sloppy defending from Di Maria allows Toulouse to win the ball back in Benfica’s box as a cross is met by Donnum but it is a simple stop for Trubin.
GOAL NEWS: DAVID PEREIRA DA COSTA! The first goal of this tie has been scored and it’s advantage to the away side!
29 min A calf injury for the goal scorer in the first leg Mikkel Dessler means his game is over. He is replaced by Warren Kamanzi.
33 min A GREAT CHANCE FOR BENFICA! A low driven cross from Alexander Bah is flicked towards the back post by Casper Tengstedt towards Di Maria who can’t divert it inside of the post as it narrowly goes wide.
Embed from Getty Images40 Min With 5 minutes left to play in the half Roger Schmindt’s side has begun to dominate more of the possession pushing the Toulouse backline a lot deeper as Benfica looks to not give away any clear-cut chances and reduce the scrappiness of the game.
44 Min A surging ball out from the defence over the Benfica backline is brought down by Suazo but his shot is blocked behind for a corner, he looked offside but the flag stays down.
45+1 Min Antonio Silva finds himself bearing down on goal but it’s a great block by Guillaume Restes who makes himself big closing the angle for the young centre-back.
GOAL NEWS: ELYE WAHI!!!! The young prospect doubles Lens’ lead with a cheeky chip as they cruise towards the Round of 16.
45+3 min Halftime at the Stadium de Toulouse and there is nothing to separate the two sides as we head into the break. The opening 25 minutes were scrappy as neither side looked too keen on attacking the other. As the half developed Benfica began to control more of the possession and managed to create a few clear-cut chances which they didn’t take with both Di Maria and Silva both agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock. It seems as if Benfica are the most likely to progress to the Round of 16 however there is still another 45 to play.
45 min We’re back underway here in Southern France. Benfica make two substitutions at the start of the second half. Arthur Cabral replaces Tengstedt and Alvaro Fernandez is swapped in for Morato.
47 min Great wing play from Toulouse as Donnum lays it off to Sierro on the edge of the box but his shot is directly fired at Trubin.
GOAL NEWS: BOURIGEAUD GRABS A BRACE! Rennes take the lead for the second time in the game after a converted penalty.
52 min Neat attacking play from Toulouse as they manage to get a shot off but only as far as Nicolas Otamendi who deflects behind for a corner.
RED CARD! ELVIN CAFARQULIYEV! QARABAG ARE DOWN TO 10!
GOAL NEWS: RAFAEL LEAO! AC MILAN WITH AN INSTANT RESPONSE TO RESTORE THE 3 GOAL ADVANTAGE
55 min IT IS AN UNBELIEVABLE MISS! Spierings has a free header from six yards out and he somehow manages to put it wide!
59 min Toulouse have ramped up the pressure on Benfica creating multiple chances and pressing them higher up the field as Sierro hits another long shot which wins a corner.
60 min ANOTHER MISSED HEADER! This time Nicolaisen rises highest but he guides his header narrowly over the bar.
Embed from Getty ImagesGOAL NEWS: BOURIGEAUD GRABS HIS FIRST EUROPEAN HAT TRICK! Rennes take the lead again through another penalty!
64 min OFF THE WOODWORK! A beautifully whipped ball from deep meets the head of Dallinga but it just hits the post.
65 min ANOTHER GREAT CHANCE FOR TOULOUSE! Somehow the ball hasn’t ended up in the net! It is pure pinball in the box as Nicolaisen fires from close range and Trubin makes a save he didn’t know too much about.
GOAL NEWS: ROLAND SALLAI! The Hungarian international has pulled a crucial goal back for the hosts.
GOAL NEWS: ROGER! Braga take the lead in Azerbaijan but they still trail by a goal on aggregate.
73 min Toulouse keep piling the pressure on Benfica who are trying to hit them on the break but have been unsuccessful. Lazy defending from Di Maria gifts the home side another corner but it is cleared with ease by Silva.
74 min Suazo is booked for a tactical foul on Rafa Silva as Benfica try to break. He will be suspended from the next game if Toulouse advances to the next round.
Embed from Getty ImagesGOAL NEWS: ALVARO DJALO LEVELS THE TIE! Quickly after having a goal disallowed Braga instantly get their second and now it’s all to play for.
82 min Kamanzi receives the third yellow of the evening. Quickly followed by Bah getting the fourth and Benfica’s first.
84 min Angel Di Maria’s game is over after what was a lacklustre performance from the World Champion. He is replaced by Orcan Kokcu.
86 min A cracking effort from the edge of the box by Shavy Warren Babicka looked curling towards the top corner but it just goes wide of the post.
Embed from Getty ImagesGOAL NEWS: ROLAND SALLAI TAKES THE TIE TO EXTRA TIME IN THE 90TH MINUTE!!!!
90 min The fourth official has indicated a minimum of four additional minutes as Toulouse continue to search for the goal that would keep their European hopes alive.
90+1 min A brilliant dipping strike from Sierro is parried away by Trubin to keep the deadlock.
FULL TIME! The referee blows his whistle at Stadium de Toulouse it ends 0-0 with Benfica progressing to the Round of 16 2-1 on aggregate. Two very dissimilar halves of football. A scrappy opening 30 minutes was followed by a dominant spell from the Portuguese champions where Di Maria and Silva both missed two clear-cut chances. A rejuvenated Toulouse side dominated the majority of the second half as they pressed higher and began crossing more balls into the box accumulating an xG of 2.09! Nicolaisen and Sierro both had great chances to level the tie but an impressive performance from Anatoliy Trubin kept Benfica’s clean sheet intact. Benfica goes into the draw tomorrow alongside AC Milan as Freiburg vs Lens and Qarabag vs Braga await extra time.
Thank you for joining me in this live blog, but don’t get anywhere as we have the 20:00 fixtures still to play!