Andy Halliday said Hearts were trying to stay compact in a 4-4-2, but the early signs in Lisbon suggested Benfica were finding far too many ways through them. In the opening stages of the Europa League tie, the Portuguese side cut open the visitors time after time and immediately looked like a class above Hearts.
That was the broad broadcast view from Sportsound as Hearts battled to contain a Benfica team that were quick to win the ball back whenever they lost it. The match had barely settled before the scale of the challenge was clear.
Halliday questions Hearts' shape
Halliday's main concern was simple: Hearts were trying to be compact and force Benfica wide, but they were too easy to play through. He also asked whether a player should be sacrificed into midfield, warning that they could not continue as they were.
It was a fair reflection of the early pattern. Benfica were moving the ball well, finding space between the lines and making Hearts defend much deeper than they would have wanted.
Benfica's pressure was immediate
Brian McLauchlin summed up the early momentum by saying it was clear Benfica were a class above Hearts. He pointed to the way they were cutting open the defence again and again, and to the speed with which they were hunting the ball down after losing possession.
That intensity was also shown when Gianluca Prestianni skipped past Jordi Altena before being denied by Beau Reus at close range. It was the sort of move that underlined the difference between the sides in the early stages.
For Hearts, the key question now is whether they can settle the tie and make their compact shape work more effectively. If Benfica continue to break through so easily, the visitors may be forced into a rethink long before the match reaches its decisive phase.
