Guedes wins a free-kick for Benfica and stings the palms of Eric from a long way out. It was a save for the cameras in all fairness but it's led to a corner for the hosts.
90' +1
Kethevoama surges forward for Astana but he fires his shot just wide of Julio Cesar. The winger was really impressive in the first half but his influence has faded since Benfica took control of the tie.
89'
Gaitan and Mitroglou almost combine again in the final third but Anicic snuffs out the danger for Astana. A third for Benfica would be a tad harsh on the visitors.
87'
The scoreline doesn't reflect how well Astana have done in stages of this game tonight but it was always going to be an uphill battle for them in Lisbon. Had Schetkin scored minutes into the second half, it could have been a different story completely.
85'
L. Fejsa enters the game and replaces A. Samaris.
SO CLOSE! Jimenez almost makes it 3-0 to Benfica as he gets a toe to Eliseu's lovely low cross, but he diverts the ball past Eric and wide of the goal at the same time.
Samaris, who has broke up play brilliantly in the middle of the park tonight, comes off for Fejsa as Benfica make their last change of the game with a like-for-like swap.
83'
Jardel gets yellow.
Jardel makes it 3-3 in terms of bookings tonight as he's the latest man to be cautioned by the Greek referee for a succession of fouls. He brings down Canas for an Astana free-kick.
Both teams are bringing on fresh faces now as time ticks on in the second half. Benfica are marching towards three points, with Atletico Madrid currently 2-0 up against Galatasaray elsewhere in Group C.
81'
A. Beisebekov enters the game and replaces B. Dzholchiev.
Dzholchiyev, who stayed down a few minutes ago under a challenge from Benfica subtitute Jimenez, has come off for Beysebekov as he's unable to carry on.
Kethevoama drives forward and lays it off for Zhukov, who tries to test Julio Cesar from outside the box but Samaris steps out and blocks the ball brilliantly.
79'
The zip in this game seems to have completely evaporated since Benfica made a couple of their changes. The Portuguese side are in possession at the moment, with no real intent to look for a third.
78'
G. Zhukov gets yellow.
Jimenez wins the ball in the middle of the park and as he tries to surge forward for Benfica, Zhukov comes across and mistimes his challenge, sending the Mexican tumbling to the floor.
77'
R. Jiménez enters the game and replaces Talisca.
Jimenez comes onto the pitch and immediately nicks the ball away from Dzholchiyev in the centre of the pitch. The Astana man remains on the floor after feeling the effect of the challenge.
Talisca comes off for Jimenez as Benfica boss Vitoria looks to rest a few of his star players ahead of their next match against bitter rivals Porto at the weekend.
Minute
Description
75'
Mitroglou is still hungry for more as he charges down Shomko's clearance towards the right-hand side of the pitch. The Greek international has been excellent in the second 45 minutes, with Jimenez stripped and ready to come on now for the hosts.
73'
Pizzi almost makes the best introduction possible as he tries to slip in Mitroglou inside the Astana penalty area but the attack falls to pieces as the Kazakh side regain their shape.
72'
Pizzi enters the game and replaces Jonas.
Current Benfica top scorer Jonas comes off to a good reception from the Estadio da Luz crowd and Pizzi replaces him. It just wasn't to be for the Brazilian tonight, having two decent shots saved in the first half.
71'
Benfica are knocking the ball around with comfort at the moment as they know there is no need to rush play. It looks as though they're about to make their first substitution of the match, too, with Pizzi stripped on the touchline.
69'
Gaitan drives forward through the middle of the pitch and instead of looking to play in Mitroglou, he attempts to go alone but Eric saves his tame effort from outside the box with ease.
67'
ALMOST! Kethevoama plays in a corner towards the back stick which Ilic prods forward across the face of goal, with Dzholchiyev inches away from getting a touch to it.
66'
Kethevoama drifts in field from the left and tries to play a one-two with Schetkin but the Astana striker fails to latch onto the return ball as Julio Cesar sweeps it up for Benfica.
64'
Benfica have turned the game on its head in the last 10 minutes and Mitroglou has been at the heart of it with a goal and an assist apiece now. It's hard to see a way back into this game for Astana.
62'
K. Mitroglou has scored a goal for Benfica! Assist by Eliseu.
GOOOOOAAALLLL!! Mitroglou gets his goal this time! The Greek striker latches onto Eliseu's cross from the left-hand side and taps home from close range with aplomb for his fourth goal of the season.
60'
Shomko nicks the ball away from the bright spark Semedo and as he tries to run away with it, the Benfica man tugs him back and hands the visitors a free-kick inside their own half.
59'
It's been all Benfica since Gaitan put them in front, with Astana almost feeling sorry for themselves at the moment. They had a great chance to score first this half but it's the Portuguese side who can smell blood right now and they're going for more.
57'
WOW! Gaitan keeps Talisca's overcooked cross in play with a breathtaking bicycle-kick cross towards Jardel, who guides the ball just wide of the post from inside the box. It was almost as if he didn't expect the Argentine winger to keep the ball in play. Benfica come close to doubling their lead again.
55'
BIG CHANCE! Mitroglou comes narrowly close to making it two as he heads just wide of the goal from a Semedo cross. The ex-Fulham striker really should have done better with Eric rooted to his spot between the sticks.
53'
Benfica finally break the deadlock and if it was going to be anybody based on what we have seen tonight, it was going to be Gaitan. He was the hosts' most creative player by a long distance in the first half and gets his just rewards with a great goal.
51'
N. Gaitán has scored a goal for Benfica! Assist by K. Mitroglou.
GOOOOOOAAALLLL!! It's 1-0 to Benfica! Gaitan plays a lovely one-two with Mitroglou and storms into the box unmarked before he unleashes a shot past Eric into the far corner. Lift off at the Estadio da Luz!
50'
Gaitan spins past Zhukov inside the penalty area and falls down looking for a penalty but the referee waves away his protests. The replay shows that the Argentine was looking for it there and it would have been incredibly harsh on Astana if a spot-kick had been awarded.
49'
On a night when Astana are expected to have only a few chances, you have to wonder whether they'll be left to rue Schetkin hitting the post minutes after the break, with Benfica caught cold. What a chance it was.
47'
SO CLOSE! Schetkin almost makes the perfect introduction to this game as he latches onto Maksimovic's header inside the penalty area and strikes the post from close range. Julio Cesar was beaten all ends up.
46'
A. Shchetkin enters the game and replaces J. Kabananga.
Welcome back! Astana get us underway for the second half here at the Estadio da Luz, with Schetkin replacing Kabananga up front for the Kazakh visitors.
Kabananga, who didn't really see much of the ball in the first half, comes off for Shchetkin during the break. The former did appear to hold his hamstring towards the end of the opening 45 minutes.
45' +1
Gonçalo Guedes gets yellow.
Shomko surges forward from left-back and wins a free-kick for Astana as Guedes fouls him down the flank. The Benfica right-back also receives a yellow card from the Greek referee in the process.
45'
BIG SAVE! Jonas powers forward through the centre of the pitch and after flashing past Postnikov, he scuffs a shot towards goal which Eric sends into the air after saving with his feet.
43'
Kethevoama, Astana's skipper and bright spark in this first half, tries to drive forward once more down the left but Semedo matches him for pace and clears the ball out for a throw-in to the visitors.
41'
You can feel the frustration from the home supporters inside the Estadio da Luz as Benfica continue to huff and puff with little spark in the final third. Credit must go to Astana for the way they've denied them any joy, though, as the interval approaches.
40'
A. Samaris gets yellow.
Samaris becomes the first Benfica man to get his name taken by the referee for a succession of fouls in the middle of the park.
39'
CLOSE! Samaris tries to feed in Gaitan with a lovely defence-splitting through ball but Ilic smells the danger fantastically well and sticks a leg out to prevent the attack gathering pace.
37'
Gaitan sells Dzholchiyev short with a lovely turn of pace down the left and sends in a fizzing cross towards the box, but Anicic clears with ease as there was not one Benfica player awaiting the ball in.
35'
Kethevoama intercepts Talisca's pass towards Semedo and drives forward on the counter-attack, but Samaris steps across and fouls him for an Astana free-kick down the left flank.
33'
Well, well, well. Dzholchiyev drives forward towards the penalty area and falls over from an Eliseu challenge, but the officials are having none of the Astana man's appeals. The replay shows that there was contact by the Portuguese left-back and it should have been a free-kick.
31'
You get the feeling that Benfica are starting to turn the screw now and that spells danger for Astana, but the Kazakh outfit are up the pitch and enjoying a decent spell of possession at the moment after a few waves of pressure from the hosts.
29'
WHAT A SAVE! Jonas controls Semedo's cross beautifully inside the box and drives a low, left-footed shot towards goal but Eric is equal to it as he diverts the ball away from goal. Excellent goalkeeping from the Kazakhstan international.
27'
Talisca clips a ball forward towards Jonas, who tries to play a one-two with Gaitan outside the penalty area but Postnikov reads the danger well and hoofs clear to give Astana some breathing space.
25'
We're well underway in the first half here in Lisbon and Benfica are still needing to be patient in order to create openings. Astana are standing firm at the moment but they're giving away plenty of free-kicks.
24'
B. Dzholchiev gets yellow.
Dzholchiev clips Eliseu down the right-hand side of the pitch and receives a yellow card from the referee. The replay shows that the Astana man was a little unlucky as the Benfica defender appears to fall down quite easily.
23'
Gaitan combines with Guedes and powers a ball towards Luisao at the back post. The Benfica skipper heads it across goal superbly looking for Mitroglou but Canas leaps to clear the ball away from danger for the visitors.
21'
M. Aničić gets yellow.
Anicic is the first man to have his name taken by the referee as he dives in on Jonas and hands Benfica a free-kick just outside the penalty area. There was no malice in the challenge but it was rather mistimed.
Anicic gives away a cheap free-kick with a mistimed challenge on Jonas just outside the box, but Gaitan steps up and drives his shot straight at the Astana wall, who did their job brilliantly.
19'
Samaris tries to thread through a ball towards Jonas but Zhukov dives in and prevents the ball from reaching the former Valencia man. Astana's backline, you feel, will need that sort of protection all night if they're to come away with a positive result tonight.
17'
Kethevoama steps up to take Astana's first free-kick of the game but the Central African Republic international curls his effort too close to Julio Cesar between the Benfica sticks.
15'
Maksimovic attempts to stretch the Benfica backline as he slips in Kethevoama, but the official on that far side raises his flag just before the Astana skipper can do anything with the ball down the flank.
13'
Talisca sprays the ball out wide to Eliseu, who ambitiously lines up a shot from outside the box but he sends his effort miles over the crossbar. Astana are, as expected, staying compact at the moment with almost every man behind the ball.
11'
Gaitan spins into a bit of space and looks to play in Eliseu marauding forward from left-back, but Postnikov comes across and sees the ball trickle out for an Astana goal-kick.
9'
All eyes are on Astana as they make their Champions League bow and while Benfica have enjoyed the lion's share of the ball in these opening stages, they have done well so far by denying the hosts little room to manoeuvre into.
7'
Zhukov bursts down the right-hand side but Samaris blocks the winger in his tracks with the help of Gaitan. The Astana man appeals for a free-kick but it was good defending from the hosts as the referee awards a goal-kick.
5'
Ilic hacks down Gaitan as the Argentine looks to drive forward and hands the hosts a free-kick. The Benfica man plays it short to Guedes, who fires well wide of the goal from distance.
3'
What a moment for Astana. Kazakh football is on the rise but it's been a rapid one for them, having only been founded in 2009. They're getting their first taste of the Champions League inside a quite empty-looking Estadio da Luz tonight, with reports saying that they haven't brought a single fan with them.
2'
CHANCE! An early chance for the hosts as Gaitan whips in a cross which is cleared by Postnikov to Talisca, who stings the palms of Eric from distance with a lovely long-range effort.
1'
Benfica get us underway here at the Estadio da Luz. The man in charge of the cards for today's affair is Tasos Sidiropoulos from Greece.
Good evening and welcome to our LIVE text commentary of tonight's UEFA Champions League clash between Benfica and Astana from the Estadio da Luz. I'm Matthew Judge and I will be your host for the match, which kicks off in 35 minutes.
A big three points are on offer in Group C tonight as two-time European Cup winners Benfica play hosts to Kazakh debutants Astana, who were only founded six years ago and are the first team to ever compete in the Champions League group stages from their country.
Benfica have failed to qualify from the group stages of the Champions League since the 2011/12 season and will be hoping to get off to a good start on home soil against history-makers Astana. Elsewhere in Group C tonight, Galatasaray are locking horns with Atletico Madrid in Turkey.
CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS..
TEAM NEWS: New boss Rui Vitoria has kept the faith and made no changes to the Benfica lineup which started their 6-0 win over Belenenses in their last match.
TEAM NEWS: Stanimir Stoilov has made four alterations to the Astana side which started their last outing against Ordabasy in the Kazakhstan Premier League. Anicic, Shomko, Maksimovic and Dzholchiyev are all being given the chance to impress from the get-go.
The players are stripped and raring to go as they leave the tunnel and enter the field here at the Estadio da Luz. We are just moments away from seeing the action start.
It's honours even at the Estadio da Luz heading into the break as neither Benfica nor Astana have managed to break the deadlock as of yet. The Kazakh outfit have made a great start to life as a Champions League team by thwarting the Portuguese hosts going forward.
Astana shot-stopper Eric has made two good saves to deny Jonas from getting his name on the scoresheet once more. The Benfica forward currently has five league goals to his name this season but he hasn't been able to connect his shots with any real menace at the moment.
Kethevoama has done his best to bring Astana forward from their heavily-defensive structure so far and he was their most dangerous attacking player in the first half by a mile.
FULL-TIME: BENFICA 2-0 ASTANA
Next up for Benfica is a trip to Atletico Madrid in Group C after facing Porto and Pacos de Ferreira in between, while Astana play hosts to Galatasaray in their first-ever Champions League tie on home soil at the end of the month.
That's all from me, Matthew Judge, and it has been a great pleasure talking you through all of tonight's action. We hope you can join us again very soon. Take care!
Astana's first taste of Champions League football ends in defeat as Benfica run out 2-0 winners at the Estadio da Luz. Goals from Gaitan and Mitroglou get the Portuguese outfit up and running in Group C.
It took Benfica 51 minutes to break their Kazakh opposition down but in the end it was Gaitan who made the all important difference tonight. It was a majestic performance from the Argentine.
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