Benfica Dominates Atletico Madrid as Conor Gallagher Struggles in Champions League Clash

In a stunning display at the Estádio da Luz, Benfica continued their perfect start to this season’s Champions League, handing Atletico Madrid a heavy defeat that left fans and players alike stunned.

The Portuguese side opened the scoring in the 13th minute, with Kerem Akturkoglu displaying remarkable composure to slot the ball home. Atletico, looking to bounce back after their previous win against RB Leipzig, made a triple substitution at halftime, introducing Conor Gallagher, who had just joined the club from Chelsea this summer. However, the move backfired almost immediately.

Just four minutes after coming on, Gallagher was involved in a controversial moment that changed the tide of the match. After a VAR review, he was penalized for a foul on Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis in the penalty area. Former Real Madrid star Ángel Di María stepped up and calmly converted the penalty, doubling Benfica’s lead.

Things went from bad to worse for Gallagher, as he was beaten to the ball during a Benfica corner in the 75th minute, allowing Alexander Bah to head in the hosts’ third goal. The evening was capped off with Orkun Kökçü adding a fourth goal from another penalty, this time after a careless foul by Reinildo Mandava.

Despite a strong start, Atletico struggled to find their footing. They came close to leveling the score in the first half, with Samuel Lino hitting the crossbar in a moment of misfortune. Earlier, Pavlidis also struck the post for Benfica, who narrowly edged out Red Star Belgrade in their opening match of the tournament.

As the final whistle blew, it was clear that Benfica had showcased their strength, while Atletico Madrid left the pitch with much to ponder. For Gallagher, it was a night to forget, but one that could serve as a learning experience in the high-stakes world of European football.