UCL: Benfica Dump Juventus To Europa, Qualify For Last 16

Portuguese champions Benfica claimed a deserving 4-3 win over struggling Juventus to dump them into the Europa League and qualify for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League at the Estadio da Luz.

A 7-goal thriller ended with the Old Lady dropping into the second division of European competition coupled with the domestic struggle in Serie A.

Juventus faced a difficult task in something we can call Group of Death 2 -- with Paris Saint-German and Benfica and difficult, it proved to be with an opening game 2-1 loss to PSG, another 1-2 loss to Benfica before a 3-1 win over Maccabi Haifa who were considered the underdogs of the group.

The underdogs were set for revenge when they defeated Juve 2-0 in Israel and that made qualification hard for Max Allegri's side.

A fourth loss on Tuesday to Benfica has now left them with 3 points after 5 games and should Macca Haifa claim a point more than them in the next game, Juventus maybe dumped out entirely from Europe.

The game was a goal-fest with Benfica scoring on the stroke of 16 mins while Moise Kean drew level 4 mins later.

A spot-kick from Mario and Rafa Silva's goal made it 3-1 just before half-time.

Another goal from Rafa Silva took the game beyond Juventus which made the late goals from Milik and McKennie too late as Benfica ran away with a narrow 4-3 win.

The victory took Benfica levelled with PSG who ran riot over Maccabi Haifa on 11 points apiece.