Realistically, Hearts’ solely goal in Lisbon final evening was easy sufficient on paper: simply keep within the tie.
In actual fact, something apart from a shellacking by the hands of the 38-time Portuguese champions would have been thought of a small victory.
Sadly, any hope – nonetheless small it could have been – of attaining that end result went out the window inside 40 minutes.
In fact, the writing was on the wall after 140 seconds when the hosts eased in entrance. Two extra had been added earlier than the interval, with one other three coming earlier than the guests had been lastly put out of their distress.
To be truthful to Hearts, this was at all times going to be a near-impossible activity. And there’s no disgrace in anyway in being comprehensively outclassed by a aspect who would additionally run rings spherical each Celtic and Rangers.
It is a membership ranked 18th in UEFA’s coefficient rankings. A membership who, final season, defeated Ajax, Napoli and Actual Madrid in Europe’s premier competitors earlier than being eradicated by Los Blancos within the knockouts.
Hearts ahead Josh McPake is dejected as Benfica have a good time scoring their fifth aim
It’s a membership who’re rightfully thought of one of many favourites – alongside Juventus, AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen – to raise this trophy on the Waldstadion in Frankfurt subsequent Might.
They’re working on a special stage in each single facet to final season’s Scottish Premiership runners-up, who can think about themselves so unlucky to be handed the draw from hell after exiting the Champions League towards Sturm Graz final week.
Supervisor Wouter Vrancken might have achieved with out it too. And whereas this was at all times going to be an uphill battle, the Belgian can’t be absolved of all blame for what unfolded on the Estadio de Luz.
He mentioned within the build-up that there could be little worth in adopting a backs-against-the-wall method. Truthful sufficient. However absolutely there needs to be a little bit little bit of realism too? His resolution to begin with two strikers and a few attack-minded vast males was naïve within the excessive.
On an evening when Hearts had been going to see so little of the ball, pragmatism might have been the best way to go.
Vrancken isn’t beneath any stress but. Nor ought to he be. However this dropping run can’t go on for for much longer. Fail to win towards Dundee United on Sunday afternoon and the warmth will nearly definitely be on.
There have been constructive spells in all 4 losses he’s overseen so far – together with final evening. Certainly, the transfer and end by Tom Renaud to scale back the deficit within the remaining quarter was of the very best order. As was the best way wherein they confirmed no worry as they tried to take the sport to their opposition within the closing levels. They performed some beautiful stuff.
Hearts boss Wouter Vrancken is greeted by Benfica supervisor Marco Silva
Vrancken definitely deserves some credit score for making an attempt to implement his personal model. However there may be additionally the chance of those gamers turning into demoralised by all of it. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see how they bounce again from this. You’d suspect – and hope – they are going to.
Hearts’ recreation plan towards Benfica went out the window inside two minutes. Alexander Bah was given acres of house on the right-hand aspect to play within the wonderful Leandro Barreiro, who picked his head up on the byline earlier than discovering Rafa Silva to faucet residence.
Sure, it was slick. However Hearts didn’t half make it simple for them.
They’d already been warned moments earlier when Gianluca Prestianni – again within the aspect following a six-game European ban – drifted inside on the alternative flank and examined keeper Beau Reus from 20 yards.
The Argentine spurned a fantastic probability to double the hosts’ lead on 11 minutes. Jordi Altena’s toes had been seemingly caught in cement as his opponent skipped previous, earlier than firing straight at Reus from a decent angle.
The guests did handle to climate the early storm considerably, and supplied a risk on the break. However each Alexandros Kyziridis and Calvin Miller had been responsible of losing first rate crossing alternatives.
Benfica’s second was as soon as once more so easy in its execution, with defender Tomas Araujo getting up over Blair Spittal to go residence from a routine nook. Recreation over. Tie over.
Laurent Mendy crashed a thumping header off the bar on the different finish as Hearts looked for a fast response. However whereas the Frenchman was unfortunate with that effort, he had no excuse for opting to inexplicably pull again Prestianni inside the realm 5 minutes earlier than the break.
Tomas Araujo celebrates after scoring Benfica’s second aim after simply 23 minutes
Vangelis Pavlidis stepped as much as confidently dispatch the spot-kick, taking his tally to 5 in his final two outings.
Benfica’s fourth got here from extra sloppy play by Hearts close to their very own field. Prestianni’s curling end from vary was beautiful.
As was Renaud’s. Benfica had been at sixes and sevens as Hearts handed their approach by means of, earlier than summer time signing Renaud fired a rasping strike into the web to present the 1,200 travelling Jambos located approach up within the Gods one thing to have a good time.
That additionally appeared to present these on the pitch an actual jolt of confidence. With some composure, Hearts might have nabbed a second. It will have made subsequent week’s return at Tynecastle a little bit extra attention-grabbing, not less than.
With Hearts committing gamers ahead, Benfica discovered a fifth by means of former Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran on the finish of a sweeping counter, earlier than Andreas Schjelderup rounded issues off with the final kick from the penalty spot after an Oisin McEntee handball.
The Convention League beckons.
BENFICA (4-2-3-1): Soares 6; Dahl 7, Lenglet 6 (Manu Silva 73), Araujo 6.5, Bah 6; Barrenechea 6 (Rios 65), Barreiro 7; Rafa Silva 7, Suakov 6 (Schjelderup 65), PRESTIANNI 8.5 (Kaminski 85); Pavlidis 6.5 (Duran 65). Booked: Prestianni, Bah. Supervisor: Marco Silva 7.
HEARTS (4-4-2): Reus 6; Altena 4, McEntee 5, Findlay 5, Milne 4 (McCart 46); Kyziridis 4 (Kerjota 86), Spittal 5, Mendy 4 (Renaud 46), Miller 5 (McPake 73); Braga 6, Kabore 4 (Gendouz 64). Booked: Mendy, Spittal, McEntee, Braga. Supervisor: Wouter Vrancken 4.
Referee: Marian Barbu (Rom) 6.
Attendance: 60,776.
