Benfica's Zivkovic 'Taken To The Hospital After Attack On Team Bus

Julian Weigl and Andrija Zivkovic have reportedly been taken to hospital after the Benfica team bus was stoned by angry fans, according to A Bola.

The incident occurred after Benfica's first game since the coronavirus pandemic shutdown, when they were held to a goalless draw against Tondela.

The long-awaited return for football in the country appeared to be going well, with touching gestures in stadiums around the league, however the apparent attack on the Benfica team bus ended the day in disgrace.

Reports say that the players were both hit in the face by shards of glass from the bus' windscreen after it was hit by rocks.

The bus was apparently under escort from local police as it returned from the stadium to Seixal, however the attacker has not yet been identified.

They were treated at the club's training centre nearby, and were then taken to Hospital da Luz as a precaution.

With scarves replacing fans and an eagle mascot making its traditional pre-game flight, Benfica were held to a 0-0 draw by Tondela on Thursday, missing a chance to take the outright lead of the Portuguese league in the team's first match since the competition was halted nearly three months ago because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Thousands of scarves with the club's red and white colours were placed on the seats at the Stadium of Light to represent Benfica fans as the club returned to action a day after rivals Porto lost 2-1 at Famalicao in their first game back.

The pair of results left the clubs tied with 60 points with nine rounds remaining. Porto had carried a one-point lead from before the pandemic.

The Benfica scarves on the stands had messages such as 'always together' and 'wherever you are.' A big banner with the words 'here we are' was seen above the scarves in one of the seating sections.

Before the match, one of Benfica's eagle mascots flew around inside the stadium in a tradition that happens before every home match.

'It's ugly to play in an empty stadium,' Tondela coach Natxo Gonzalez said. 'I don't get football without fans, but we have to get used to this new reality.'

Needing a win to overtake leaders Porto, Benfica dominated from the start against 13th-place Tondela, creating more than 20 attempts without being able to capitalise. Benfica were denied twice by the woodwork near the end.

'They always played with 10 men behind the ball, it was tough,' Benfica midfielder Adel Taarabt said. 'We kept trying and trying but the ball just wouldn't go in. Of course we missed our fans, but that can't be used as an excuse.'

It was the third consecutive draw for the defending champions, and the second at home. Benfica haven't won in four straight matches at the Stadium at Light in all competitions.

Earlier on Thursday, Maritimo and Setubal played to a 1-1 draw to stay in the bottom half of the table.

Sporting Lisbon played Vitoria SC later on, where photos of fans were placed on the seats in the empty stadium.

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Club Record Breaker And Still Unbeaten In 38 Games At Home

Manchester United set a club record 38 games unbeaten at home (11 of them draws, but only 2 in the last 10) as Jose Mourinho goes about doing what he does best - making his teams utterly unbeatable at home.

Even when not at their best, the team has looked solid and unpenetrable, a trait that hasn't been the most common amongst United teams of the recent past and that is an undeniably positive thing.

On the night, Bailly's uncharacteristic tentativeness and sloppiness meant that United looked a bit shaky for once - but then the thing about United is that if you get past that brick wall of red in front of you, you've got David De Gea waiting behind it... and at the end of the day, all that matters is another win, another record for Mourinho and United.

Benfica created history, but not what they'll want to remember

Benfica may have raced toward their 5,897th Primeira Liga title (actually it's 36... but it really does feel like their 5,897th) last season but they have looked a pale shadow of themselves this time around.

While still third in the league after 10 games (three behind Sporting and five behind hated rivals, Porto), it is their form in the Champions League that's the real cause for concern.

I should rephrase that, cause for concern implies there's something that can be done to correct the situation while in actuality the Portuguese giants have already created history - and not the kind they'd like to remember.

They are the first Portuguese side in European competition history to lose their first 4 games of the group stages and it really does look likely that they'll be the first to 6 - and exiting the group stage with not a single point.

As good as some of the individual players were - full-back Douglas was superb going forward (not so much doing his primary job, though), Ruben Dias looked as solid as ever, Diogo Goncalves didn't enter the scoresheet only because of the fact that David De Gea was the one facing his shot... and we've already talked about Mile Svilar.

End of the day, though, as a unit they promised much to deliver little and a club of Benfica's lineage will be hurt by it... but goddamn it, their fans deserve all the credit in the world for simply refusing to give up on their team.

Mile Svilar can't catch a break

At 18 years and 65 days old, Mile Svilar became the youngest person in Champions League history to save a penalty - to complement his breaking the record for youngest ever goalkeeper to play in the CL (beating Iker Casillas) and it looked like he had put to rest last fortnight's unfortunate error that cost Benfica the game behind him (when he carried Rashford's freekick into his own net) but it was not to be, for...

... at 18 years and 65 days old, he also became the youngest player to score an own goal in Champions League history.

Few footballers go through such trials and tribulations so early on in their footballing careers - and he can only emerge from them stronger.

He displayed some fantastic goalkeeping on the night - penalty save apart - and looks to have all the ingredients necessary to become an established top-level keeper; all he needs now is for Lady Luck to wink his way once in a while.

Romelu Lukaku's struggles in front of goal continue

Romelu Lukaku has looked a pale shadow of his old self since his mate Paul Pogba got sidelined and his struggles in front of goal continued today - compounded by lack of any regular service, and Jose Mourinho's refusal to allow him to take the second penalty that United won (and which Blind converted)

As good as his hold-up, and link-up, play was - why people slate him for something he's rather brilliant at, I'll never understand - he thrives on goals, goals, and more goals and the lack of this must be eating at him.

Lukaku, a quiet personality despite his dominating physique thrived when the all-encompassing aura of Paul Pogba was around (not to mention Pogba's exceptional vision and bravery in passing forward - and in doing it early) but without his great friend he seems bereft of all the adventure, and arrogance, that he seemed to bring to the court for United. He is too good a striker to keep down, though, and Chelsea beware if they think they're in for a free ride against him.

Anthony Martial infuriates and excites in equal measure, but United need to be patient with him

Every single time he plays, he makes you scream his name out loud - trouble is while half the time it's out of sheer "oh-my-good-lord-what-did-he-just-do-there" excitement, the other is dedicated to sheer "what-the-hell-did-he-just-do-there" anger.

Gary Neville said last week - "You always get the feeling he's playing at 85 percent. If he showed that extra 15 percent, then he could do anything. He's got everything you'd want: composure in front of goal, great skill, pace, strength, but what is that little bit missing?"... and you can't help but wonder what Anthony Martial could be capable of if stumbled upon that remaining 15%.

No one, no one, at Manchester United produces as many exhilarating moments as Anthony Martial and he deserves all the love and support he is getting from the fans... and the manager. He is still only 21, for crying out loud... and if United remain patient with the lad, they'll end up winners sooner rather than later.

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Arsenal 5-1 Benfica: Player Ratings

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