The Portuguese club’s double was scored by Joao Mario (51 from a penalty kick) and Brazilian David Neres (88).
The two teams will meet again in Lisbon on the seventh of next March.
Club Brugge started the match with a pressing attack on Benfica’s goal in search of an early goal, but Benfica’s Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Flakodemos was on the lookout from the first minute.
The hosts scored a goal in the last minute of the first half, through Denis Odoi, but it was ruled out for offside.
Benfica decided the match in its second half, when it got a penalty kick in the 47th minute, Mario rushed to it and translated it as the first goal (51).
The same player missed the opportunity to score the second goal with a powerful shot that passed near the goal, but Neres took advantage of a defensive error and scored the second goal after being completely alone in the goal of goalkeeper Simon Mignolet (88).
The match referee also ruled out a third goal for Benfica due to Neres offside in the third minute of stoppage time.
© 2023 AFP
