In-Demand Liverpool Target Hits Treble In Europa League Win

Benfica youngster Joao Felix was undoubtedly the best player on the Europa League scene last night after he scored a treble in the win over German Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Portuguese teen sensation scored three goals as Benfica beat 10-man Frankfurt 4-2 at home in the first leg of their quarterfinal tie in the Europa League.

Portuguese giants Benfica took a big step towards clinching a semifinal berth at the expense of their German club.

The hosts were handed a good opportunity to take the lead when Eintracht Frankfurt defender Evans N’Dicka was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity in the box paving the way for Joao Felix to give his team the lead from the spot on 21 minutes.

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Joao Felix has been linked with several European clubs including Liverpool who reported had a £61m bid rejected for the 19-year-old.

Frankfurt striker Luka Jovic equalised for the German club in the 40th minute against his parent club who were level for just three minutes before the aforementioned Joao Felix added a second goal with two first-half minutes left.

Ruben Dias added a third goal five minutes after the halftime interval before Joao Felix completed his hattrick four minutes later to edge Benfica 4-1.

Goncalo Mendes Pacienca pulled one back for Eintracht Frankfurt to give the German club a fighting chance ahead of the second leg on Thursday.