Benfica will take a narrow lead to Germany next week after their 1-0 home victory over Nurnberg.
Portuguese side scrape to victory
Benfica will take a narrow lead to Germany next week after their 1-0 victory over Nurnberg at the Estadio da Luz in the last 32 of the Uefa Cup.
Nurnberg looked bright throughout the first-half, taking the game to the hosts and seeing Tomas Galasek and Nicky Adler both waste early opportunities.
They were then made to pay for their wastefulness in front goal just two minutes before the break when Ariza Makukula fired the Portuguese side in front.
Allowed space and time on the right of box the Portuguese international striker drilled a low effort into the centre of the goal past a helpless Jaromir Blazek.
With their noses now in front Benfica looked far more comfortable at the beginning of the second-half with Oscar Cardozo, Angel Di Maria and Armando Petit all missing chances to double the home side's advantage.
The closing stages of the game became a scrappy affair with both sides picking up needless bookings and failing to create any clear cut chances.
While Benfica will be happy to hold a first leg advantage going into the return match in Germany next week, Nurnberg will feel that they did enough to earn a draw in the Portuguese capital and will still be confident of getting the required result in front of their own supporters.
