He also assisted Benfica’s only other goal
19-year-old Benfica forward Joao Felix had a night to remember for the Eagles on Thursday evening, bagging himself a hattrick and an assist in a 4-2 demolition of Bundesliga team Eintracht Frankfurt.
The wonderkid has been something of a sensation in his first full season as part of the Benfica senior squad, scoring 10 league goals in just 18 appearances for the Primeira Liga leaders (albeit on goal difference), and has now taken his goalscoring exploits to the Europa League.
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Felix opened the scoring on the night from the penalty spot after Evan N’Dicka was sent off for the German side. They soon equalised through their own highly-sought striker Luka Jovic – who, funnily enough, is on loan from Benfica and will join permanently in the summer – before the Benfica number 79 struck again before half-time with a low drive from outside the box.
He grabbed his only assist of the game shortly into the second period, flicking a near-post header into the path of defender Ruben Dias who applied the finish at the back stick, before sealing his hattrick only minutes later, slotting in an Alex Grimaldo cutback from 12 yards out.
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Manchester United have repeatedly been linked with the striker since his breakthrough earlier in the season with reports indicating that Benfica, perhaps unsurprisingly, value the teenager at close to £100 million.
Judging by his performance against a Frankfurt side unbeaten in 15 games in all competitions – their most recent defeat coming against Bayern Munich in December last year – he may well prove to be worth the investment. That being said, they will, of course, have competition for his signature, with reports indicating that rivals Manchester City and Italian giants Juventus are also sniffing around the young hitman.
Joao Felix about to be mobbed by his teammates after scoring his third goal of the game against Frankfurt
