Goals from Jonas and Luisão secured the three points that virtually assured them of a place in the round of sixteen with two games remaining.


The Portuguese champions are in the midst of their best Champions League campaign in years following their famous win against Atlético Madrid in the Spanish capital recently.


Against a robust Galatasaray side it was Gaitán who had the crowd on their feet as he shot just wide in the opening exchanges. Jiménez then forced Muslera into a sharp save, Gaitán hit the rebound over the bar, Guedes tried his luck but shot over and Jonas tested the Argentine goalkeeper twice in quick succession as Benfica poured forward.


Towards the end of the first-half Galatasaray got a toe hold in the match with the ever alert Wesley Sneijder a constant threat.


At the break Benfica boss Rui Vitória rallied his troops and seven minutes after the re-start Gaitán flighted a free-kick towards goal where Jardel headed towards goal.


Skipper Luisão took a swing at the ball, missed it, but in the process the ball fell to Jonas, who hammered it into home. Galatasaray came back strongly and five minutes later drew level when the German striker Podolski hit a fierce angled shot across Júlio César and into the net. But Benfica were not to be denied and midway through the half restored their lead with a sweet strike from their captain Luisão who latch


ed onto a corner, controlled the ball and hit a fine finish into the top corner. Galatasaray threw on attacking substitutions as the game opened up to produce an exhilarating last twenty minutes.


Benfica missed several chances, with Jiménez being the chief culprit, for which they could have been made to pay.


The Turks squandered a couple of glorious opportunities in a fast-and-furious last five minutes after Benfica had been reduced to ten men when Gaitán picked up a second yellow card.


First Inan thundered a long-range effort just wide, then Oztekin seemed certain to score as the ball fell to him with Júlio César out of position, but the substitute lifted his shot over the bar.


With Astana holding Atlético Madrid to a goalless draw it was a perfect Champions League night for the home fans who gave their players a rousing send-off at the final whistle. Benfica are now two points clear at the top of Group C.