Angel Di Maria shines as Benfica humiliates Porto in O Classico

Ángel Di María, having retired from the Argentine national team after clinching the Copa América in the United States, dominated the derby for the Eagles. He delivered an impressive brace in the Portuguese football classic this Sunday, propelling Benfica to a decisive 4-1 victory over Porto. His performance earned him the title of man of the match and also solidified his status as a fan favorite among supporters. The World Cup Champion continues to capture the hearts of the crowd.

The Tale of the Fixture 

The match commenced with a strong performance from the Spanish players, as Álvaro Carreras scored to give the home team an early advantage in the 30th minute. However, the visitors responded quickly, with Samu Omorodion Aghehowa leveling the score by taking advantage of a defensive slip by Nicolás Otamendi.

Benfica showcased their resilience, regaining the lead in the 56th minute when Di María expertly converted a well-weighted through ball from Aursnes, skillfully lobbing it over Diogo Costa. The situation became more challenging for Porto shortly after, when Neuhén Pérez, recently called up for the Argentine national team, inadvertently scored an own goal, allowing Benfica to extend their lead to 3-1.

In the final moments of the match, Ángel De Maria found the net, scoring a second goal benefitting from a penalty awarded due to a foul by Alan Varela on his fellow countryman, Otamendi.

Post-match, the Rosario native reflected on the team's performance, describing it as exemplary. He expressed deep gratitude to the fans through heartfelt gestures, emphasizing the strength found in unity.

With this victory, Benfica has positioned itself third in the league standings, now just two points behind Porto in second place. Meanwhile, Sporting leads the table with a solid six-point advantage after making an impressive comeback from a two-goal deficit to secure a 4-2 victory over Braga in the farewell match of manager Rúben Amorim.