The brilliance of Benfica forward Darwin Nunez will now have the club’s officials wringing their hands collectively, as their main player must have increased millions to his purchase price after netting six goals in 10 Champions League matches this year. Nunez has already scored 31 goals this season, particularly the goal that eliminated Erik ten Hag’s Ajax from the Champions League.
Nunez might only have struck once, but he hit the ball in the net 3x, showcasing his explosive clinical capability. Regretfully, in either case, he was slightly advanced in the play, forcing the assistant referee’s whistle to be displayed. Another magnificent drive from the edges of the area pushed Alisson to execute a terrific low save.
Nunez, who is currently exhibiting his prowess in the Champions League’s knockout stages, did not pursue the traditional path to this stage. After moving up the ranks with Penarol in his homeland, he penned a five agreement with Spanish second-tier team, Almeria, in 2018, garnering £3.4 million for his hometown club. Nunez established an instantaneous influence in Spain, netting 16 goals in a season that prompted Benfica to invest £20 million in him.
After two dramatic encounters, Liverpool came out ahead 6-4 on aggregate versus Benfica in the quarter-finals. Liverpool will next meet Unai Emery’s Villarreal in the semi-final, who stunned Bayern Munich by prevailing 2-1 on aggregate after a late draw at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday. Manchester City will confront Real Madrid in the other semi-final after both squads weathered bruising quarter-final encounters versus Atletico Madrid & Chelsea.
