UCL: BENFIICA, OTHERS RECEIVE PLAYOFF BOOST

Portuguese giants Benfica, Ukrainian team Shakthar Donetsk, Swedish side Malmo FF and others have received a big boost in the playoff round of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) this season after winning their respective first leg games.

Benfica beat Dutch team PSV Eindhoven 2-1 at home when the two teams met on Wednesday night to move a step closer to the group stage. Rafa Silva was a major thorn in the flesh of the PSV defenders and the Portuguese international attacker was the recipient of the first goal of the game. German midfielder Julian Weigl added a second goal for the hosts before winger Cody Gakpo gave PSV a lifeline with his late strike ahead of the second leg. Dutch Eredivisie giants PSV have to win the second leg in the Netherlands next week Tuesday to have any chance of going through to the group stage ahead of Benfica.

In one of the playoff first leg clashes played in the Champions League on Tuesday, French club AS Monaco were beaten 1-0 at home by Shakthar Donetsk of Ukrainewith Spanish player Cesc Fabregas an unused substitute. Veteran midfielder Cesc Fabregas was left on the bench for the whole game by manager Niko Kovac as his team lost the opportunity to take a big step towards the group stage. It remains to be seen if Cesc Fabregas will play a part in the second leg in Ukraine next week Wednesday with Monaco needing to win to progress into the group stage. The playoff tie winners are guaranteed a place in the group stage.

For the other matches on Wednesday, Malmo FF of Sweden beat Ludogorets Razgrad of Bulgaria 2-0 at home, while Swiss team Young Boys edged Ferencvaros of Hungary in a five-goal thriller.Young Boys won 3-2 at the expense of their Hungarian opponents.

On Tuesday, Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg beat Brondby of Denmark 2-1 at home, while FC Sheriff thrashed Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 at home.