By Melody Gross 
Good work by a competent referee, with a lot of quality and experience
Nuno Almeida’s experience allowed him to perform well at the Estádio da Luz
Referee points: 7
Nuno Almeida referee Benfica Vitória de Guimarães. Andre Narciso was the VAR. Here is a technical analysis of the performances most relevant to the match:
4′Andre Silva was disarmed by Otamendi’s foot, who touched the ball without committing any foul. Even though the attacker fell, the move (in the red) was legal. The serve did not play a replay of the play.
8′Jota Silva shot past Samuel Soares, but after starting from an irregular position. Nuno Almeida did well not to interrupt the game because Benfica came out to play.
11′– At the time of Rafa’s pass to Di Maria, the Argentine was behind the opponent’s defensive curtain, and quickly became his main position. Then it was the misfortune of Jorge Fernandez, who inadvertently turned the ball into his own net. Great goal.
17′Yellow card for Thiago Silva after a violent tackle on Rafa. good decision.
19′The red card appears well for Joao Mendes. The Vitória player was not malicious or used excessive force, but his careless manner (without regard to the potential danger to Otamendi) resulted in physical contact that clearly endangered the Argentine’s physical integrity. This confirmed the correctness of the grave error. Well done.
21′– The yellow color shows badly for blah. Nuno Almeida was tricked by the device into the fall of Jota Silva. The winger was not negligent in making contact with the opponent.
33′– Legal goal for Di Maria: Rafa, who made a decisive pass, started from a legal position and the Argentine was behind the ball.
40′Entry from behind, with great difficulty and carelessness, Jota Silva on Rafa. The offense was well punished with a warning.
45+1′Musa’s shot hit Villanueva’s right arm, and later left on his own line. Although the ball touched the so-called ‘restricted area’ of his body, the Venezuelan had his back turned, in a defensive position and did nothing to the contrary.
46′Orsnes goal, after a pass from Joao Mario, was saved by Varela. The Portuguese midfielder was in a legal position (36 cm) when Rafa passed him the ball.
60′– Otamendi’s flight over Nelson da Luz was clear, as the central defender never touched the ball, only the opponent knocked him down. The offer is properly accepted with a warning to cut off a promising attack. The question of a clear goal opportunity (punished with a red card) was never raised, because the striker dribbled back (in the opposite direction of the red goal), was on the right and had many opponents on his side, with potential. from “double”.
77′– The goal was nicely disallowed for Vitoria, after a timely VAR intervention: Nelson da Luz finished the ball off after playing with his left arm. Even if this action is involuntary, the transfer must be cancelled, because no player can score under these circumstances. A note of the precarious approach of Samuel Soares at the opponent’s feet, which seemed irrelevant in the face of his erratic conclusion.
79′Yellow looks good to Handel after an improper tackle on Rafa.
89′– Bah Square went to the hands of Samuel Soares, who caught the ball. The referee read it correctly: there was no intentional delay by the Dane.
90+4′– Afonso Freitas ostensibly caught Joao Victor, preventing him from advancing in an unsportsmanlike manner. You have been well warned.
90+7′– The initial feeling was that Afonso Freitas deliberately took his body and arm in the direction of the ball, in order to intercept it irregularly. Then the lack of volume will be irrelevant. However, with subsequent photos, it was noted that the defender rotated his body and raised his right arm to protect himself from a possible collision and/or attempt to legally block the shot. At the exact moment of contact, the arm was bent and affixed to Guimarães’ body. The penalty kick’s cancellation technically was correct, although it was not a clear and obvious VAR move. Note: A dropped ball was the correct restart, because for the referee, the moment of touching the ‘ball/arm’ determined the decision to signal the alleged offence. The interruption (the whistle) had already happened with the ball out of the field, but the prevailing spirit was that of the moment when Nuno Almeida really wanted to intervene.