Lingard becomes the latest player to receive a yellow card. Benfica have been presented with a free-kick deep inside their own half of the pitch, but they may not have enough time to take it.
90' +3
Lukaku steps up and shoots from the resulting free-kick, but his thumping strike flies into the wall of red shirts camped in front of him before deflecting over to the right wing, where Svilar is easily able to deal with the danger near the corner flag.
90' +2
Luisão gets a second yellow card and is sent off.
S. McTominay enters the game and replaces H. Mkhitaryan.
Ouch! Luisao loses the ball and lunges into McTominay, sending the youngster flying to the ground and leaving the referee with no choice but to show the veteran a second yellow card. It's gone from bad to worse for the home side...
90' +1
Mkhitaryan has made way for Scott McTominay in United's last substitution of the game.
90'
The fourth official has indicated that there will be four minutes of added time.
89'
Another attempted Cervi cross results in another corner for Benfica. Once again, the substitute's cross into the box is a decent one but can only find Valencia. The Ecuadorian heads the ball out of the penalty area and sets up Zivkovic to shoot, but the latter's rushed half-volley is poorly hit and sails well wide of its intended target.
88'
Vital interception by Dias! It looks as Martial is going to be able to burst into the Benfica box after a piece of sloppy play by Douglas, but Dias does really well to close down and dispossess the Frenchman before he's able to do so.
86'
Cervi does well over on the left flank once again and wins yet another corner for the home side. This time the Argentine's cross in from the set-piece is sent in a little deeper, but Smalling is easily able to get ahead of a group of red shirts before clearing the danger.
84'
Big chance for Dias! Cervi immediately gets involved in the game as he quickly wins Benfica a corner over on the left wing. It's swung into the middle of the penalty area and picks out Dias, who reaches the ball in acres of space but can't guide his side-footed shot on target.
83'
J. Lingard enters the game and replaces Mata.
F. Cervi enters the game and replaces E. Salvio.
Meanwhile, Mata has made way for Jesse Lingard for United.
Benfica have made their third and final alteration of the evening, with Franco Cervi coming on to take the place of Salvio.
Minute
Description
82'
Augusto tries to test De Gea with an audacious 30-yard strike after Benfica aren't able to find a way through the United back line. It's poorly hit and easily closed down, however, sending the ball sailing straight into the hands of De Gea.
80'
Martial easily gets the better of Douglas as he skips down the left flank and into the Benfica box. The substitute heads towards the near post and then tries to poke a low shot past Svilar, but the young goalkeeper does well to get a foot on the ball to deny the Frenchman.
78'
Jonas tries to get a shot away from just outside of the visitors' box, but it takes a slight deflection off Lindelof that sends the ball behind for a corner. The set-piece is whipped in by Zivkovic, but, not for the first time tonight, Lukaku is there to clear the danger without too much trouble.
76'
A. Martial enters the game and replaces M. Rashford.
Rashford really looks to be struggling after going down off the ball, and he evetnaully hobbles off the pitch to be replaced by Anthony Martial.
75'
Zivkovic does well to get himself into a decent position midway down the right flank as Benfica push forward on another attacking move. He then swings a cross into the penalty area, but it's poorly hit and fails to pick out Jonas at the far post.
73'
Benfica are seeing more of the ball now that United have decided to sit back ever so slightly, but they're finding it tough to do much with it. Plenty of black shirts are camped in front of them and are denying them a way through on goal.
71'
Half-hearted appeals for a Benfica penalty! Zivkovic manages to break into the left-hand side of the United penalty area and then tries to poke a pass across the face of goal. It's cut out by Valencia at the near post before it can find a red shirt, and some of the players appeal for a penalty claiming that the ball had hit the Ecuadorian's arm. The referee isn't at all interested, however, and waves play on.
69'
Jonas enters the game and replaces Diogo Gonçalves.
The hosts have made another change as they try to get back into the game, with Goncalves making way for Jonas.
68'
That goal really seems to have affected Benfica, who are now struggling to get out of their own half of the pitch. United are seeing plenty of the ball and are comfortably knocking it around without a care in the world.
66'
United quickly win back possession from the restart and push forward once again. Valencia breaks down the right wing and then whips a looping cross into the penalty area, where it's slightly overhit and fails to find the head of Lukaku.
64'
M. Rashford has scored a goal for Manchester United!
GOAL! What a mistake by Svilar! The young goalkeeper has had a horrid time trying to deal with balls into the box, and this time he manages to catch Rashford's cross-cum-shot only to take it back over the line with him. All of the players look totally stunned!
63'
Mkhitaryan is caught late over on the left wing, presenting United with a good chance to whip a cross into Benfica box. Svilar hasn't looked comfortable all evening, so will he end up being caused problems once again?
61'
Rashford almost catches out Svilar! An audacious curling strike from a corner over on the left wing almost results in the first goal of the game, but Rashford's effort is just about punched over the crossbar by Svilar at the vital moment.
59'
A. Živković enters the game and replaces Pizzi.
Benfica have made their first substition of the game, with Andrija Zivkovic coming on to replace Pizzi.
58'
Thumping strike by Matic! The Serbian gets himself into a good position 30 yards away from goal and quickly unleashes a rocket of a shot. It's well hit by the midfielder but ends up sailing a few yards over the top of the crossbar.
56'
More good play over on the left-hand side of the Benfica box sees him set up Lukaku with a clever cut-back. The Belgian then looks to shoot, but he's far too slow in getting the ball out of his feet and is quickly dispossessed.
54'
Diogo Gonçalves gets yellow.
Rashford immediately tries to break forward on a quick counter-attack after the Benfica free-kick is successfully dealt with, but he's cynically pulled back by Goncalves on the halfway line and the Portuguese youngster receives the latest booking.
53'
Lindelof climbs all over Jimenez as the two battle for the ball over on the right flank, resulting in a free-kick for Benfica. Pizzi steps up and curls a cross into the box, but it fails to result in an opportunity on goal and is easily dealt with by the visitors.
51'
Rashford does well to control a bouncing ball a few yards outside of the home side's box and quickly gets a shot away, but his thumping volleyed strike is sent straight into the hands of Svilar, who is easily able to hold onto the effort at the near post.
49'
Great interception by Valencia! Space opens up for Salvio, allowing the Argentine to burst down the right wing on a wonderful run. He then fires a dangerous low cross into the heart of the penalty area and towards Goncalves, who is just beaten to the ball by Valencia at the vital moment.
47'
Herrera is presented with an early chance to shoot from just outside of the Benfica box after good play by Rashford down the left flank, but the Spaniard's attempted strike is poor and bounces comfortably wide of the goal.
46'
We're underway once again!
45' +1
United try to push forward on one final attacking move as they attempt to find a way in front just before the half-time break, but they're unable to do so quickly enough and the referee blows his whistle just as Matic sends a hopeful ball up towards the Benfica box.
45'
The fourth official has indicated that there will be just one minute of added time.
43'
After dealing with the danger, United quickly counter-attack through Mkhitaryan. The Armenian does well to dart into an acre of space inside the final third of the pitch before shooting from 25 yards out, but his strike is woefully hit and sails well wide of the near post. He really should have done much better with that!
42'
The set-piece is whipped in by Grimaldo and towards Luisao in the middle of the box, but it's slightly underhit by the Spaniard and makes life easy for Herrera, who is easily able to blast the ball back up the pitch.
41'
A. Valencia gets yellow.
A deep cross in from Douglas fails to find a team-mate inside the United penalty area but bounces over to Jimenez on the left wing. The Mexican quickly tries to skip past Valencia, but he's caught by a flailing arm from the captain and wins the home side a free-kick.
39'
Lukaku twists and turns on the edge of the Benfica box after being picked out by Matic. He attempts to get the ball out of his feet as he tries to unleash a shot, but he can't do so quickly enough and ends up accidentally knocking it behind for a goal-kick.
37'
A deflected pass from Mata bounces a few yards wide of the far post and behind for another United corner. This time it's Mkhitaryan who swings the corner into a dangerous position, but Benfica do well to deny a black shirt a chance on goal.
36'
United keep pushing forward as they continue putting plenty of pressure on the home side. Matic charges into the penalty area on a wonderful run before eventually managing to get a shot away, but the Serbian's effort is well saved by Svilar at the near post.
34'
Vital touch by Dias! Another dangerous cross is fired into the middle of the Benfica box and towards Rashford. The youngster looks set to reach it once again, but this time Dias is just about able to beat him to the ball with an outstretched leg.
32'
Big chance for Rashford! Mata and Blind link up well deep down the left wing, setting up the Dutchman to curl a lovely cross into the heart of the penalty area. It sails right onto the head of Rashford, who does well to beat his marker but can't hit the target with his looping header.
30'
Poor decision by Jimenez! The Mexican picks up the ball in a promising position 30 yards away from goal and decides to try and beat De Gea with an audacious effort instead of setting up a team-mate. Unsurprisingly, it isn't the right choice, and his poorly hit effort sails high and wide of the goal.
28'
There's a slight coming together between Mata and Antonio Valencia out wide, sending the latter to the floor and allowing Goncalves to burst forward on a great run. He then cuts inside and fires a low cross into the penalty area, where a deflection sends the ball into the hands of David De Gea.
26'
Rashford makes a quick run down the left flank as he tries to latch onto a clever pass forward from Blind, but the youngster ends up setting off slightly too early and is flagged offside as soon as he makes contact with the ball in a promising position.
24'
Matic is caught from behind just as he charges into the Benfica half of the pitch, and United are awarded a free-kick. The ball is poorly lost by Matic and given straight to the home side, who try to counter-attack but lose out to Daley Blind over on the right wing.
22'
Jimenez rises high above Smalling and does well to latch onto a lofted pass forward. He then nods the ball down towards the edge of the United box and into the path of Salvio, but before the Argentine can make decent contact with the ball, the referee awards a free-kick to the visitors for a push on Smalling. Jimenez doesn't look too pleased with that decision!
20'
A dangerous deflection off Herrera almost sets up Goncalves to burst into plenty of space deep down the left flank, but the forward can't quite keep the ball in play and United are able to hold on.
18'
Victor Lindelof catches Filipe Augusto deep down the left flank, resulting in a free-kick for Benfica in a dangerous position. Pizzi steps up and sends a dangerous ball into the box, but it's well dealt with by Lukaku before it can pick out a red shirt.
16'
Lukaku goes close! Marcus Rashford battles his way down the left flank before doing well to win United a corner. The set-piece is swung in by the youngster and picks out Lukaku, who rises high and hits the crossbar with a bullet header before the referee awards a free-kick for a push on Svilar.
14'
What a chance for Eduardo Salvio! The game gets underway once again, with Dias and Svilar still on the pitch. Benfica immediately burst forward over on the left wing before Grimaldo fires in a great low cross, and it sets up Salvio to fire a first-time strike just a few yards wide of the far post.
12'
It's been a tough couple of moments for Benfica, as first Ruben Dias is momentarily forced off after clashing with one of his own players before Svilar goes down off the ball. The youngster seems to have pulled a muscle, but it looks as if he's going to try and continue.
10'
United aren't able to fully clear the danger from the resulting corner, and Benfica are presented with another chance to fire the ball into the box. Luisao charges towards the corner and almost manages to reach it in front of goal, but Chris Smalling is there to clear the danger with an important header at the vital moment.
9'
Mata can't find Lukaku on the edge of the Benfica box, allowing the the home side to break forward on a quick counter-attack. Diogo Goncalves bursts towards the penalty area and then chips a cross into the middle of the box, where both Pizzi and Raul Jimenez are able to get a head on the ball before it's blasted behind by Ander Herrera.
7'
Slightly sloppy play from Benfica presents United with a good chance to counter-attack. Nemanja Matic eventually pokes a clever pass through the hosts' back line and towards Juan Mata, who darts into the penalty area but is caught slightly offside.
5'
Luisão gets yellow.
The referee's yellow card is out already, and it's gone Luisao's way after the veteran centre-back caught Henrikh Mkhitaryan with a flailing arm as they battled for the ball.
4'
Young Mile Svilar is quickly given something to do as he successfully deals with a lofted pass that was searching for Romelu Lukaku. The teenager did well to dart out to the edge of the box and clear the danger with a diving header.
3'
Plenty of space opens up for Alex Grimaldo over on the left flank, allowing him to dart towards the byline before swinging a looping cross into the United penalty area. It's slightly overhit, however, and the ball fails to find a team-mate in front of goal.
1'
We're off! Benfica get us underway, attacking from right to left.
Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of today’s Champions League group stage game between Benfica and Manchester United at the Estadio da Luz.
Jose Mourinho may have received criticism from some quarters for his side’s defensive approach to Saturday’s Premier League clash away to Liverpool, but United nonetheless remain unbeaten so far this season and head into tonight’s game full of confidence. The Red Devils have impressed at both ends of the pitch, resulting in them scoring 20 times and conceding just twice in their last seven fixtures across all competitions.
United have not only enjoyed a positive start to the new domestic season but find themselves in a commanding position in the Champions League thanks to two comfortable outings. They easily saw off Basel at Old Trafford before enjoying a similarly enjoyable evening against CSKA Moscow in which they found the back of the net four times. Another win tonight could move them as much as five points clear heading into the return fixture in Manchester at the end of the month.
Heading into this evening’s game, Mourinho was adamant that Benfica are the toughest of United’s opponents, but results are yet to back up his claim. Last year’s Primeira Liga winners - who gave Mourinho his first ever managerial job way back in the autumn of 2000 - have struggled in Europe this season, with two defeats from as many games leaving them rock bottom of Group A.
It’s set to be another tough evening for tonight’s hosts, who have not only won just two of their previous seven games but have only managed to beat United in one of the last six meetings between the two sides. That win came just under 12 years ago, although the Portuguese side did manage to hold their opponents to two well-earned draws when they last met in the group stage of the Champions League in 2011.
There’s just under 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this evening…
Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Valencia, Lindelof, Smalling, Blind; Herrera, Matic; Mata, Mkhitaryan, Rashford; Lukaku.
Manchester United substitutes: Romero, Darmian, Jones, McTominay, Young, Lingard, Martial.
Rui Vitoria has decided to make six changes to the Benfica side that started the 5-0 defeat away to Basel last month, with Mile Svilar, Douglas, Ruben Dias, Filipe Augusto, Eduardo Salvio and Diogo Goncalves coming into the starting line-up to replace Julio Cesar, Andre Almeida, Jardel, Andrija Zivkovic, Franco Cervi and Jonas, respectively. At just 18 years, one month and 22 days old, Svilar is set to become the youngest ever goalkeeper to play in the Champions League.
Meanwhile, United boss Jose Mourinho has made three alterations to the team that featured in their last Champions League outing, with Eric Bailly, Ashley Young and Anthony Martial making way for Antonio Valencia, Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford.
The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.
HALF-TIME: BENFICA 0-0 MANCHESTER UNITED
There's little to talk about so far, as neither side have found too much joy in front of goal. Benfica arguably started the better of the two teams and did well to cause a few problems out wide, but United comfortably got back in the game and have controlled the contest since then. Jose Mourinho will certainly be the happier of the two managers at this stage.
The two teams are making their way back out on to the pitch ahead of the start of the second half. Neither side have made any substitutions during the half-time break.
FULL-TIME: BENFICA 0-1 MANCHESTER UNITED
Despite only winning by one goal, it was a relatively comfortable evening for United, who are able to head back to Manchester with three more points under their belts. They were rarely tested by a struggling Benfica side and were able to force young Svilar into making a truly terrible mistake, one that keeps his side rock bottom of the group after three games.
For United, the victory means they remain in a commanding position at the top of Group A. Another victory against Benfica in two weeks' time would all but confirm their place in the knockout round of the competition, setting them up nicely for an important clash away to Basel next month.
Commentary
More…