Champions League Power Rankings: PSG shine in matchweek 1

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LISBON, PORTUGAL – SEPTEMBER 12: SL Benfica forward Eduardo Salvio from Argentina in action during the UEFA Champions League match between SL Benfica and CSKA Moskva at Estadio da Luz on September 12, 2017 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images) /

22. Benfica

Benfica simply had to win against CSKA at home. Instead, the Portuguese side looked far away from being United’s biggest threat in Group A.

The Eagles found themselves sucker punched by two second-half strikes from their Russian visitors. Those goals rattled the team good enough to boss its domestic league last season.

It didn’t help when key figures such as winger Eduardo Salvio and forward Jonas failed to shine. Without more fluency in the final third, Benfica looked one-paced and clueless going forward.

Fortunately, there is still time for manager Rui Vitoria’s team to turn things around. But the influential players in this experienced squad will need to play a lot better.

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