Paris (AFP)
Benfica Lisbon won a narrow 2-1 home win over PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night in the Champions League play-off first leg.
In the other two matches of the evening, the Swedes of Malmö and the Swiss of Young Boys of Bern also won on their field, against respectively the Bulgarians of Ludogorets (2-0) and the Hungarians of Ferencvaros (3-2 ).
Result all the more meritorious for the formation of Bern as it was reduced to ten after only 25 minutes of play and the exclusion of Silvan Hefti.
On the Hungarian side, Myrto Uzuni missed a penalty.
At the Da Luz stadium in Lisbon, Benfica led 2-0 at half-time after goals from Rafa Silva, a cross shot from the left low in the area (10th), then from the German Julian Weigl just before the break, up close, following a corner from Pizzi (42nd).
But the Dutch got a deserved score reduction on a personal feat from Cody Gakpo (51st), whose curling shot from outside the box misled Odysseas Vlachodimos, the Greek goalkeeper for Benfica.
The return play-offs will be played next Tuesday and Wednesday.
Results of the first leg of the Champions League:
Tuesday August 17th
RB Salzburg (AUT) - Brondby (SWE) 2 - 1
FC Sheriff (Mol) - Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) 3 - 0
Monaco (FRA) - Shakhtar Donetsk UKR) 0 - 1
Wednesday August 18:
Young Boys (SUI) - Ferencvaros (HUN) 3 - 2
Malmö (SWE) - Ludogorets (BUL) 2 - 0
Benfica (POR) - PSV Eindhoven (NED) 2 - 1
(Return matches on August 24 and 25)
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