In the Zone: Benfica's masters and apprentice

Defences stole the limelight in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 openers but it was a different story when those decisive second legs started on Tuesday.

In our latest FedEx Performance Zone stats dive, we take a look at three players from the Benfica outfit that crushed Club Brugge 5-1 to become the first side to seal their place in the quarter-finals.

There is certainly no doubt who has been the star turn for the Eagles in the competition this season with midfielder João Mário in the form of his life. The 30-year-old has now scored 20 goals – 13 more than in any other campaign in his career – with six coming in the Champions League. The midfielder has struck with every shot on target in the 2022/23 edition and, staggeringly, only this week registered his first shot off target.

João Mário sat third in the overall standings after Tuesday's performance, with the 60 points he scored in the second leg against Brugge his highest in a game this term. In 74 minutes of action (7.5 points), he managed a goal (22.5 points), an assist (13.5 points), an attempt on target (three points), one off target (1.5 points), two ball recoveries (three points) and an 82% passing accuracy (nine points) in another fine all-round display.

While João Mário has impressed, Benfica's tally of 22 goals in this season's competition shows this has been a real team effort. Twenty-nine-year-old striker Rafa Silva scored again (22.5 points), had an attempt on target (7.5 points) and two off target (six points) – forwards are awarded more points on those two metrics – while a remarkable 90% passing accuracy (13.5 points) helped nudge him into fifth in the overall standings at close of play on Tuesday.

The performances of those seasoned campaigners are clearly rubbing off on the Eagles' next generation, though, and 21-year-old Gonçalo Ramos outshone his more experienced team-mates with a scintillating 91.5-point display, which saw him climb a mind-boggling 101 places to 13th overall on Tuesday night.

His 90 minutes of action (7.5 points) garnered two goals (45 points), an assist (13.5 points), three attempts on target (22.5 points) and two off target (six points). His matchnight tally would have been higher still had he not been caught offside twice (minus three points). Nevertheless, Benfica's fledglings look as productive as their in-form veterans.