In quarters of the Champions League, Benfica shows power

In the quarters of the Champions League, Benfica shows power.

Nobody anticipated that Benfica would have much success in Europe's premier club competition when the Portuguese team began its Champions League campaign in the third qualifying round in August.

Expectations were low as it was coming off a subpar season by the club's standards.

Nonetheless, Benfica persisted in competing, making progress, and improving under new manager Roger Schmidt round after round.

The traditional club is currently in excellent form and is widely regarded as one of the teams in Europe to beat going into the Champions League's final stages. Benfica won't be viewed as one of the softer opponents when the last eight teams are drawn the following week.

That hasn't been the case recently, as it hadn't advanced past the round of 16 since 2016–17 prior to last season.

This time, it shocked everyone by going undefeated and winning a challenging group that featured powerhouses Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus. On Tuesday, it defeated Club Brugge 5-1 for its highest Champions League home victory, moving on 7-1 overall to the quarterfinals.

We must respect everyone at this point of the Champions

League because there are always good opponents, said Schmidt. But we will make every effort to make it to the semifinals by playing in this manner, with this concentration, drive, and defense.

Since losing to AC Milan in the championship game in 1990, Benfica has not advanced to the semifinals. In the round of eight last year, eventual runners-up Liverpool eliminated Benfica.

Gonçalo Ramos, a striker for the squad who scored twice in their rout on Tuesday, stated, "We had a lot of respect for Brugge, and now we are already focused on the next round. No matter who our next opponent is, we'll continue to play in the same manner.

Together with Rafa Silva and Joo Mário, who both scored a goal on Tuesday at the Stadium of Light, the 21-year-old Ramos has been one of Benfica's top players this season.

Gonçalo Guedes, who joined from Wolverhampton during the winter transfer window, has been able to connect with them successfully.

First-line defenders Chiquinho and Florentino have been working hard, with Antonio Silva, a rookie defender, and seasoned defenders Nicolás Otamendi and Lex Grimaldo succeeding behind them.

In 42 games this season, Benfica has lost just once, while the team is unbeaten in 19 home contests. In its last 13 games across all competitions, it has gone undefeated with 11 victories. With 23 goals this season, it has the most productive offense in the Champions League, one more than Napoli and two more than the reigning champion Real Madrid. It has a comfortable eight-point lead over Porto in the Portuguese division.

The team has been putting in a lot of effort, and things are going well for us, according to Silva.

Benfica, who won the European championship twice in the early 1960s, last advanced to the round of eight in 1968 and 1969.

The draw for its subsequent opponent will take place on March 17. But, it's unlikely that Benfica's players are overly concerned about its upcoming opponent.