Team news

Jesus keen to nail down top spot Benfica coach Jorge Jesus has his sights set on securing top spot in Champions League Group C as the Portuguese side prepare for their final pool game against Otelul Galati.

Victory over the Romanians, who have yet to pick up a point in their debut season in the competition, would ensure Benfica stayed above Manchester United, potentially guaranteeing themselves a more favourable draw for the last 16.

The Portuguese side have a terrific record at the Stadium of Light, where they have lost only once in 18 European matches, although they are yet to win in Lisbon during the group stages this term, drawing with United and Basle.

Jesus told www.slbenfica.pt: "We have achieved our first goal of the season, which was getting through the group stages of the Champions League and into the quarter-finals, and we are the only Portuguese team who have already succeeded.

"This shows us that Benfica can achieve the objectives it sets itself in the season, and that makes us happy. However, we always want more. First of all we want to stay first in our group, which we will try to do by beating Otelul Galati." Benfica have already tasted victory over Galati this season having registered a 1-0 win in Bucharest earlier in the campaign, and striker Javier Saviola knows what a big achievement it would be to finish ahead of Manchester United.

He said: "We have a lot of responsibility to finish first, and we will go into the match with the same attitude, which is to win the match and ensure Manchester United will not be in first position." Saviola is not yet looking ahead to potential last-16 opponents, and he added: "We have had a good group stage and it is good to get to the situation we are in. Now we will wait and see." Galati are playing purely for pride but coach Dorinel Munteanu has happy memories of Lisbon having scored the only goal for Romania in the city when they beat Portugal in qualifying for Euro 2000.

Benfica vs Otelul Galati

Last modified 22:07 07/12/11

Benfica on top Benfica secured top spot in Group C after they overcame Otelul Galati 1-0 in a hard-fought Champions League clash in Portugal.

Oscar Cardozo scored the only goal of the night for the Portuguese side in the seventh minute with a simple tap-in to deny the Romanians a point in their debut season in the competition.

Benfica made it difficult for themselves against Galati as they spurned a host of chances, but their position at the top of the group was assured by Cardozo's goal as Manchester United, who started the night in second place, failed to make the final 16 following a 2-1 defeat in Basle.

Cardozo got the home side off the mark after midfielder Axel Witsel combined with Nicolas Gaitan, who pulled back to the unmarked goalscorer allowing the striker to finish from the edge of the six yard box.

It marked a period of dominance for Benfica but Galati regained some momentum at the end of the half with a couple of good attempts on goal of their own.

Benfica midfielder Pablo Aimar went close in the 13th minute with a testing inswinging corner which was caught by Galati goalkeeper Branko Grahovac.

Laurentiu Iorga tested Benfica's defence soon after when his long-range free-kick was saved by Artur in one of Galati's rare attacks.

Galati defender Ioan Filip then made a goal-line clearance at the near post from Gaitan's corner before Bruno Cesar's speculative long-range shot missed Grahovac's net.

Gaitan had another long-range shot denied just after half an hour before Galati went close twice in two minutes.

Gabriel Paraschiv's shot from the centre of the area was blocked by Artur before Gabriel Giurgiu's lobbed effort was cleared by Emerson.

Galati striker Liviu Antal then forced the Benfica keeper into another save as the clock ticked down to half-time.

After the break, Bruno Cesar's volley from the left of the area was saved by Grahovac before Cardozo missed a golden chance to double Benfica's lead in the 55th minute when he headed Witsel's cross over the bar from close range.

Javi Garcia and Witsel both tried their luck with long range efforts before Benfica substitute striker Nolito was twice denied with 15 minutes left on the clock.