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Goals: Mile Svilar Own Goal (from Matic's powerful shot); Daley Blind penalty (after Marcus Rashford was brought down in the box)
Manchester United and Benfica played one of those games that meander along for long periods only to be punctuated by the occasional spark of quality and United ended up rather comfortable 2-0 winners as they eased their way to a (most-likely) impregnable position atop Group A (where United have 12 points, Basel and CSKA Moscow 6, and Benfica 0)
Here, then, are the main talking points from the match:
#5 Manchester United create (club) history
Manchester United set a club record 38 games unbeaten at home (11 of them draws, but only 2 in the last 10) as Jose Mourinho goes about doing what he does best - making his teams utterly unbeatable at home.
Even when not at their best, the team has looked solid and unpenetrable, a trait that hasn't been the most common amongst United teams of the recent past and that is an undeniably positive thing.
On the night, Bailly's uncharacteristic tentativeness and sloppiness meant that United looked a bit shaky for once - but then the thing about United is that if you get past that brick wall of red in front of you, you've got David De Gea waiting behind it... and at the end of the day, all that matters is another win, another record for Mourinho and United.
Man loves playing at home, doesn't he?
Speaking of fortresses... just how bloody good is David De Gea, eh?
#4 Benfica create history, but the not the kind they'll want to remember
Benfica may have raced toward their 5,897th Primeira Liga title (actually it's 36... but it really does feel like their 5,897th) last season but they have looked a pale shadow of themselves this time around.
While still third in the league after 10 games (three behind Sporting and five behind hated rivals, Porto), it is their form in the Champions League that's the real cause for concern.
I should rephrase that, cause for concern implies there's something that can be done to correct the situation while in actuality the Portuguese giants have already created history - and not the kind they'd like to remember.
They are the first Portuguese side in European competition history to lose their first 4 games of the group stages and it really does look likely that they'll be the first to 6 - and exiting the group stage with not a single point.
As good as some of the individual players were - full-back Douglas was superb going forward (not so much doing his primary job, though), Ruben Dias looked as solid as ever, Diogo Goncalves didn't enter the scoresheet only because of the fact that David De Gea was the one facing his shot... and we've already talked about Mile Svilar.
End of the day, though, as a unit they promised much to deliver little and a club of Benfica's lineage will be hurt by it... but goddamn it, their fans deserve all the credit in the world for simply refusing to give up on their team.
#3. Mile Svilar can't catch a break
At 18 years and 65 days old, Mile Svilar became the youngest person in Champions League history to save a penalty - to complement his breaking the record for youngest ever goalkeeper to play in the CL (beating Iker Casillas) and it looked like he had put to rest last fortnight's unfortunate error that cost Benfica the game behind him (when he carried Rashford's freekick into his own net) but it was not to be, for...
... at 18 years and 65 days old, he also became the youngest player to score an own goal in Champions League history.
Few footballers go through such trials and tribulations so early on in their footballing careers - and he can only emerge from them stronger.
He displayed some fantastic goalkeeping on the night - penalty save apart - and looks to have all the ingredients necessary to become an established top-level keeper; all he needs now is for Lady Luck to wink his way once in a while.
This really is just sodding unfortunate
#2. Romelu Lukaku's struggles in front of goal continue
Romelu Lukaku has looked a pale shadow of his old self since his mate Paul Pogba got sidelined and his struggles in front of goal continued today - compounded by lack of any regular service, and Jose Mourinho's refusal to allow him to take the second penalty that United won (and which Blind converted)
As good as his hold-up, and link-up, play was - why people slate him for something he's rather brilliant at, I'll never understand - he thrives on goals, goals, and more goals and the lack of this must be eating at him.
Lukaku, a quiet personality despite his dominating physique thrived when the all-encompassing aura of Paul Pogba was around (not to mention Pogba's exceptional vision and bravery in passing forward - and in doing it early) but without his great friend he seems bereft of all the adventure, and arrogance, that he seemed to bring to the court for United. He is too good a striker to keep down, though, and Chelsea beware if they think they're in for a free ride against him.
#1. Anthony Martial infuriates and excites in equal measure, but United need to be patient with him
Oh! Martiaaaaaaaaaaaal
Oh, Martiaaaaaaaaaaaal.
Every single time he plays, he makes you scream his name out loud - trouble is while half the time it's out of sheer "oh-my-good-lord-what-did-he-just-do-there" excitement, the other is dedicated to sheer "what-the-hell-did-he-just-do-there" anger
Just have a look at this clips -
Magic.
And then, Rubbish.
Gary Neville said last week - "You always get the feeling he's playing at 85 percent. If he showed that extra 15 percent, then he could do anything. He's got everything you'd want: composure in front of goal, great skill, pace, strength, but what is that little bit missing?"... and you can't help but wonder what Anthony Martial could be capable of if stumbled upon that remaining 15%.
No one, no one, at Manchester United produces as many exhilarating moments as Anthony Martial and he deserves all the love and support he is getting from the fans... and the manager. He is still only 21, for crying out loud... and if United remain patient with the lad, they'll end up winners sooner rather than later.
