Benfica take huge step closer to Champions League playoffs

Two-time winners Benfica edged closer to the Champions League playoff round on Wednesday with a 2-0 win at Spartak Moscow in the first leg of their third qualifying round.

Second-half goals from Rafa Silva (51st minute) and Gilberto (74) secured victory in the Russian capital for the Portuguese giants who were European champions in 1961 and 1962.

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Slavia Prague, who made the Europa League quarterfinals last season, were defeated 2-0 at Ferencvaros of Hungary.

Dynamo Zagreb conceded an 82nd-minute equaliser at home to Legia Warsaw in a 1-1 draw to hand the initiative to the Poles in next week’s return leg.