Benfica Vs. Manchester United Live, 2011 UEFA Champions League, Full Time: All Square At Estadio Da Luz

It’s ended Benfica 1-1 Manchester United in Lisbon, an even result in an absorbing but tight game. Manchester United had a much-improved second half, though chances still came at both ends, though in the end neither side could force a winner.

In the first half, Benfica had dominated - the Portuguese club had taken the lead courtesy of Oscar Cardozo, who controlled Gaitan’s cross superbly and finished with an excellent strike on his weaker right foot into the bottom corner. It was a richly-deserve goal, with Benfica controlling the game in all areas of the pitch and United lacklustre, cluttering the pitch with countless sloppy passes and half-hearted tackles. At the end of the half, however, one of United’s worst players up until that point - the 37-year-old Ryan Giggs - produced a superb finish out of the blue to level the game.

After the break, United were much-improved as Benfica seemed to tire, though with Wayne Rooney dropping deep, United had too few players getting behind the Benfica defence to pose much of a problem. Equally though, they owed their frustration to the superb Luisao, who stood out as the best player on the pitch, not putting a foot wrong in the whole 90 minutes and giving a masterclass in defending and reading of the game.

Another player who impressed was Anders Lindegaard, who denied Benfica with some excellent saves when they periodically threatened the United goal in the second half. Though even he should’ve been unable to stop Nolito, who was fortuitously presented with a clear chance in the dying minutes only to scuff a tame shot into the side netting.

As the game drew to a close, both sides turned to their match-winners - United to Nani and Hernandez, Benfica to Nolito and César, though neither were able to provide the breakthrough necessary, with defences on top for much of the game. In the end, it was a fair result for both sides, which both managers will be fairly happy with - Benfica know that the other teams in their group are unlikely to earn a point against the top seeds in the group, whereas United know that their toughest test is over. These two teams were the clear favourites to progress from the group, and tonight has done nothing to change those expectations.