Benfica’s defense tries to repeat success against Liverpool

LISBON: Facing another free-flowing attack, Benfica will take on Liverpool in the Champions League likely betting on the same defensive formula that worked so well against Ajax.

Benfica host Liverpool in the first leg of the quarterfinals on Tuesday in Lisbon, with the English club bringing another attacking-minded squad similar to Ajax’s.

Liverpool have the competition’s fourth-best offense, while Ajax had the third-best attack after being held by the Portuguese team in the last 16.

Benfica’s low defensive block and quick transitions worked well for a 3-2 aggregate win against Ajax, putting the team back in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2016.

“We can suppress Liverpool’s strengths," Benfica coach Nélson Veríssimo said. “Like any team, they have weaknesses that we can take advantage of.”

After a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Portugal, Benfica comfortably sat deep in the return leg. Ajax had more touches and crosses than almost any other team in the round of 16, but could not get past a Portuguese defense that played with several players behind the ball.

Ajax only got two shots on target from 16 attempts, while Benfica scored on its only attempt on goal — Darwin Núñez’s 77th-minute header that secured the 1-0 victory.

“We knew we were going to suffer and we did,” Núñez said after the match.

Benfica, a two-time European champion, are near the top in defensive statistics in the Champions League this season, including in clearances and tackles. The team also resorted to solid defending and quick transitions to defeat and help eliminate five-time European champion Barcelona in the group stage.

Benfica had to contain a red-hot Sébastien Haller against Ajax. Now it will have to stop the likes of Mohamed