Benfica flexed their muscles and enhanced their claim for the UEFA
Europa League title with a stunning rout of hapless Hertha Berlin
at the Stadium of Light.
Pablo Aimar set the hosts on their way with a 25th-minute
strike and Oscar Cardozo doubled the advantage three minutes into
the second half.
Javi Garcia netted a third after 59 minutes and Cardozo added
a fourth three minutes later as Benfica made it five from five at
home in Europe this season, amassing 17 goals in the process and
conceding just one.
The emphatic result sealed a 5-1 aggregate triumph for the
Portuguese Liga Sagres leaders and a place in the Europa League
last 16 against FC Copenhagen or Marseille.
Benfica had lost only once on home soil to German teams in
European competition prior to the contest, with Bayern Munich's
1995 UEFA Cup victory the only defeat in 14 fixtures.
And Hertha, languishing at the foot of the Bundesliga, were
unlikely to trouble the Eagles.
