Category: Football, Sports

Benfica Thrash Atletico Madrid: Gallagher’s Penalty Mistake Leads to Heavy Defeat

Benfica Thrash Atletico Madrid: Gallagher's Costly Penalty Error

Conor Gallagher conceded a penalty as Benfica continued their perfect start to the Champions League, thrashing Atletico Madrid 4-0 in Lisbon. Kerem Akturkoglu opened the scoring for Benfica in the 13th minute, finishing with composure to give the hosts an early lead.

Gallagher, who joined Atletico Madrid from Chelsea this summer, came on as part of a triple half-time substitution but quickly found himself at the center of controversy. Just four minutes into the second half, Gallagher was deemed to have fouled Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis in the penalty area following a VAR check. Former Real Madrid forward Angel Di Maria stepped up to convert the penalty, doubling Benfica’s advantage.

It was a tough night for England international Gallagher, whose struggles continued as he was beaten to the ball by Alexander Bah from a Benfica corner in the 75th minute. Bah’s header made it 3-0 for Benfica, leaving Atletico Madrid with little hope of a comeback.

Benfica continued to dominate, and Orkun Kokcu added a fourth goal from the penalty spot after a sloppy foul by Atletico’s Reinildo Mandava. The Portuguese side showcased their offensive prowess, while Atletico’s defensive errors proved costly.

Pavlidis almost added his name to the scoresheet just before half-time, hitting the post for Benfica, while Atletico came close to equalizing in the first half when Samuel Lino’s mishit cross struck the crossbar at 1-0 down.

Benfica’s impressive win followed their narrow 2-1 victory over Red Star Belgrade in their Champions League opener last month. Atletico, meanwhile, had previously defeated RB Leipzig 2-1 but suffered a humbling defeat against the Portuguese champions in Lisbon.

Benfica Continue Champions League Dominance

With their emphatic victory over Atletico Madrid, Benfica maintained their perfect start to the Champions League group stage. The team’s attacking talent, coupled with Atletico’s defensive lapses, was on full display as they outclassed their opponents.

Kerem Akturkoglu’s early goal set the tone for Benfica’s dominance, and Angel Di Maria’s well-taken penalty only added to Atletico’s woes. The hosts were relentless, pressing Atletico high up the pitch and taking advantage of every opportunity that came their way.

Gallagher's Challenging Night

Conor Gallagher, a summer signing for Atletico, endured a difficult outing. After conceding the penalty for Di Maria’s goal, he struggled to regain his composure, and his missed clearance allowed Alexander Bah to head in Benfica’s third goal. It was a night Gallagher will hope to quickly forget as Atletico seek to regroup.

Reinildo Mandava’s foul, which led to Kokcu’s penalty, added to Atletico’s misery, as they were comprehensively beaten by a Benfica side determined to prove themselves in Europe.

Looking Ahead

Atletico Madrid will need to address their defensive frailties and bounce back in their upcoming Champions League fixtures. Despite their win against RB Leipzig, this heavy defeat will be a reality check for the Spanish side, who must improve if they hope to progress to the knockout stages.

For Benfica, their confidence will be sky-high after two wins in two games. They have shown they can compete with Europe’s best, and their strong performance against Atletico Madrid cements their status as serious contenders in this season’s Champions League.