Benfica overcame Anderlecht 2-0 this evening, in the opening game of the Champions League.
Last year's Europa League runners up were comfortable throughout the match and could have scored more in a dominant first half.
Anderlecht improved after the break but could not quite find the goal to get themselves back into the game.
You can see how the action unfolded with our minute-by-minute coverage below.
6.47pmThanks for joining me this evening for a tie which offers an intriguing match-up between two sides in a transitional period.
6.48pmBenfica, reeling from their dramatic defeat in both the Europa League and Portuguese league last season, have brought in several players including highly-rated Serbian teenager Lazar Markovic.
6.50pmAnderlecht have scouted well too, signing 19-year-old Ghana winger Frank Acheampong and Spain Under-20 star Fede Vico. They did however, lose two big players in Lucas Biglia and Dieumerci Mbokani over the summer, who left for Lazio and Dynamo Kiev respectively.
6.53pmIt is also worth noting that the Estadio de Luz, where tonight's game takes place, will also stage the final of the Champions League in May, although I would be somewhat surprised if either of these two were to make it that far.
6.56pmFrench champions Paris Saint-Germain are the favourites to win this group, with Benfica expected to qualify in second place. A good result for the visitors tonight could really out the cat amongst the pigeons.
6.59pmI can't see anything other than a home win though, I'm afraid. Benfica have added a player of huge potential in Lazar Markovic, who has already started scoring goals despite being only 19. They've also got the likes of Oscar Cardozo and Nemanja Matic in attack.
7.01pmAdd to that the fact that the Anderlecht defence has conceded 10 goals already this season, and you will realise why I'm picking Benfica!
7.04pmAnderlecht do have a young in-form striker of their own tonight though. Aleksandr Mitrovic, signed from Partizan Belgrade for €5m (£4.2m) in the summer, scored twice at the weekend but will need to raise his game again in Europe's top competition.
7.09pmWith the attacking talent on show, and the attitude of both sides today, I am confident of a few goals. Preferably an early one to set the ball rolling. One thing that Anderlecht mustn't do though, is drop their heads if Benfica go ahead, then it really could get difficult.
7.10pmWithout further ado, lets get the the teams in...
7.10pmTEAM NEWS!
7.12pmBenfica XI: Artur; Andre Almeida, Luisao, Garay, Siquera; Perez, Fejsa, Djuricic, Matic; Cardozo, Markovic
7.14pmAnderlechtXI: Proto; N'Sakala, Kouyate, Mbemba, Gillet; Kljesta, De Zeeuw, Milivojevic, Suarez; Bruno, Mitrovic
7.16pmSo, it's a Champions League debut for you Lazar Markovic in the Benfica team, who will spearhead their attack alongside the experienced and dangerous Oscar Cardozo.
7.18pmAnderlecht start with their two-goal hero from the weekend, Mitrovic, in attack, and the youngster will be hoping De Zeeuw, Bruno and Suarez can create enough chances for him.
7.21pmAn amazing, if not all that surprising stat regarding Anderlecht today. The last time the Belgian side won away in the Champions League was in 2005, at Real Betis!
7.23pmThat, along with Anderlecht leaky early-season defence, goes in line with my prediction of a home win, and the score... 3-1 to Benfica.
7.29pmWhile Ghana youngster Frank Acheampong makes the Anderlecht bench this evening, there is no place for exciting Spanish starlet Fede Vico. Benfica have a wealth of attacking talent on among their substitutes, including Rodrigo, Lima and Ola John.
7.32pmThat Benfica bench really makes me even more certain that the home side will win this evening. I'm really going to look silly if Anderlecht pull off a shock in Portugal.
7.36pmUnder ten minutes to go until kick off now in the opening round of fixtures for the Champions League, what football fan would not be excited today!
7.41pmThe players are in the tunnel and are ready to make their way onto the pitch, where the crowd are creating an intimidating atmosphere for the visitors.
7.43pmAnd now that famous Champions League anthem rings out around the Estadio de Luz. The handshakes are done and we're ready for kick off!
1 minBenfica get us underway...
2 minAnderlecht penned inside their own box early on and are forced to concede and early corner. Matic delivers a clever low cross into the box but Cardozo miss-kicks his effort and the Belgians get the ball away.
4 minBenfica are comfortably playing the ball between their defence and midfield. A clever one-two allows them to break on the right, but Matic's cross evades Markovic and Anderlecht clear again.
4 minGOAL! Benfica 1-0 Anderlecht (Djuricic)
4 minPerez picks the ball up on the right and comes inside before playing a one-two with Cardozo on the edge of the box. The midfielder's shot is spilled by the goalkeeper and Djuricic is on hand to tap the ball in. Terrible start for the visitors!
7 minA clearance from Garay is beautifully flicked into the path of Markovic by Cardozo but the youngster is crowded out inside the box. Benfica look rampant.
9 minAnderlecht spring their first attack as Bruno spins away from Siquera on the right after a good ball from De Zeeuw, but there is no one in the box and Benfica can clear the ball.
12 minAnderlecht trying to take the pressure of their back four with a bit of possession now. Benfica are not letting them out of their defensive third though and force the Belgians to go long.
14 minBenfica keeping the ball in the corner with Matic and Almeida winning a throw-in deep on the right. Anderlecht deal with the long throw though and Kouyate brings the ball out of defence.
16 minThe game has quietened down after a very quick start. Benfica are still comfortable on the ball but Anderlecht are seeing more and more of it now, even if it is mainly in their own half.
18 minCardozo somehow beats the offside trap from a long ball, before skipping past two challenges and cutting the ball back, where there are only purple shirts unfortunately for him, and Anderlecht clear the ball.
21 minLovely move from Anderlecht, their best of the game, as De Zeeuw finds Bruno, who scoops the ball over the top for Mitrovic, but the youngster can't quite get his cross past the defender. Benfica defend the resulting corner.
22 minYELLOW CARD! Bruno's frustration gets the better of him as he lunges in on a Benfica defender.
23 minSAVE! Superb move from Benfica as Markovic plays a one-two with Matic before skipping past a defender in the box. Cardozo takes it off his toes though and the goalkeeper dives to his right and catches the ball.
26 minBenfica happy to play on the counter-attack at the moment. After a couple of good chances in quick succession, they've taken their foot off the pedal somewhat and are taking a breather.
28 minYELLOW CARD! Perez picks up a silly yellow card for kicking the ball away after the referee's whistle.
30 minGOAL! Benfica 2-0 Anderlecht (Luisao)
30 minAnderlecht fail to deal with a Benfica corner following a good move on the right. The ball is put back into the box and Luisao shows incredible skill, chesting the ball away from his marker and firing past the goalkeeper on the turn!
33 minBenfica are very comfortable here. Just as Anderlecht seemed to be getting back into it, their defence lets them down, not for the first time this season.
34 minYELLOW CARD! Poor challenged from De Zeeuw, who takes out Almeida and rightly receives a booking.
35 minBenfica almost get a third! The ball is flicked on from Djuricic and Cardozo reacts well but can't quite get his effort on target.
38 minAnderlecht trying to play their way back into this game with some neat passing on the left but N'Sakala's cross beats everyone and Benfica can get the ball away easily.
42 minThe visitors are struggling to hurt Benfica at all here. The home defence has had very little to deal with and to be honest, their attack has not had to work too hard either, despite a two-goal lead.
45 minMitrovic leads an Anderlecht counter-attack and side-steps to defenders on the edge of the box, but decides against shooting and sees the ball cleared for a corner, which the Benfica defence deal with easily.
45+1 minHALF-TIME: Benfica 2-0 Anderlecht
8.33pmWell, it has gone pretty much as I expected it too in that first half. Benfica have been more than comfortable and find themselves two goals ahead without really having to work that hard.
8.36pmAnderlecht have showed some neat touches here and there, but haven't done enough in the final third, and just as they were looking like they might get back into it Luisao doubled Benfica's goal with an excellent turn-and-finish.
8.37pmMitrovic, the Anderlecht striker, has looked a little too raw for the Champions League so far despite some nice touches, which is understandable considering he only turned 19 yesterday.
8.39pmThat said, Benfica's young forward Markovic has been excellent throughout, ably supported by Perez and Matic, with Cardozo offering a target all the time. There are definitely more goals in this match for the home side.
8.42pmIf, and it is a big 'if', Anderlecht can get the next goal, they might be able to get something out of this match. They've got quality in the final third but unfortunately not quite enough at the moment. On top of that, they've defended poorly.
8.46pmThe players are slowly making their way back onto the pitch for the second half.
46 minAnderlecht get the game going once more...
47 minThe Belgian side start fast in the second half. Mitrovic's clever flick releases Frank Acheampong on the left but Artur gathers his drilled cross.
47 minSUBSTITUTION Just to confirm Acheampong replaced De Zeeuw at half time.
49 minMarkovic can't quite get on the end of a clever through ball from Matic, as Proto gathers.
52 minAcheampong again wriggling free on the left and running away from Almeida, but once again the defence can clear the ball. The young Ghana winger has really made an impact for the visitors so far in the second half.
54 minPerez is brought down on the right wing by N'Sakala, giving Benfica a free kick in a dangerous position...
55 minAnderlecht are able to clear from Matic's delivery and break on the right. Mitrovic is crowded out though.
58 minSome very stylish football from Anderlecht on the left between Acheampong and N'Sakala. Mitrovic eventually wins the ball at the back post and heads towards goal, but Artur produces and excellent save. It didn't matter though, as the referee had already seen a foul.
61 minThe game has an end-to-end feel about it now, and it's actually Anderlecht who are looking the more likely. Almeida manages to get the better of Acheampong for once though and clears the ball.
64 minDjuricic almost gets his second, collecting Cardozo's subtle through ball and firing it towards the far post, but the offside flag is up anyway.
67 minBoth sides struggling to keep possession now as the game enters a slightly scrappy phase. Benfica try to break on the right but Perez is crowded out.
68 minBenfica almost have the ball in the net again as Markovic flicks the ball over the defence for Djuricic, who the referee deems as having handled the ball. It looked like a shoulder to me!
69 minSUBSTITUTION: Ola John replaces Perez as Benfica introduce some fresh legs.
70 minYELLOW CARD! Mitrovic is booked for a poor challenge on Matic.
71 minCHANCE! Siquera finds Cardozo free in the box. The striker brings the ball down but slips as he shoots and fires just wide.
73 minBenfica are really waking up again now. Markovic breaks through the middle and sidesteps two challenges before taking too long on the edge of the box and allowing Anderlecht to get the ball away.
76 minSUBSTITUTION: Benfica bring on Maxi Pereira in place on Djuricic as they look to see out the match.
79 minSUBSTITUTION: Anderlecht bring on Denis Praet and Cyriac for Bruno and Mitrovic respectively.
81 minAnderlecht deal with another Benfica long throw. The hosts are on top again now as the Belgians seem to have run out of steam in the final ten minutes.
84 minThe home side are passing the ball around their defence and midfield now with Pereira and Almeida on the right. They're not committing too many men forward and are looking to see this game out now.
86 minAcheampong breaks on the left again and beats Pereira, but again Artur can catch the ball. The Benfica goalkeeper takes his time before smashing the ball upfield.
87 minSUBSTITUTION: The final change of the match sees Rodrigo Lima replaces Cardozo for the hosts.
89 minAnderlecht have the ball in the net, but it's disallowed. The ball goes all the way in from a free kick but a number of players are offside in the middle of the box. The assistant referee raises his flag despite none of them touching it and the Belgian side are denied.
90+1 minSAVE! Artur reacts excellently to push Suarez's header wide from Praet's corner. Benfica clear the second delivery.
90+4 minFULL-TIME: Benfica 2-0 Anderlecht
9.37pmBenfica keep the ball for two minutes at the end, passing around the whole pitch and showing their overall superiority.
9.38pmAnderlecht showed very little this evening and got exactly what they deserved. Even in their more dominant spell for 20 minutes after half time, they rarely threatened Artur in the Benfica goal.
9.39pmBenfica were not at their best today, but they didn't have to be. They will want, and need, to find another gear against the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, but on tonight's showing, I would expect the Portuguese side to advance from Group C.
9.39pmThanks for joining me, and goodnight.
