Benfica Fans Throw Objects at Liverpool, Ex-Porto Star Luis Díaz

The winter signing was targeted by fans in Lisbon after scoring in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg.

Multiple objects were thrown at Liverpool forward Luis Díaz throughout the club’s 3–1 win at Benfica in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals Tuesday.

The first incident came after his 87th-minute goal that put the match to bed. The winger ran to celebrate by the corner flag before a fan sitting in the front row visibly launched a projectile in his direction.

Díaz was later named man of the match for his goal and assist, but even during the postgame ceremony he appeared to be the crowd’s target. 

Former Porto winger Luis Diaz had sticks thrown at him.@carra23 @micahrichards and @liannesanderson were not impressed by the fan behavior. pic.twitter.com/VeATvJmMfa

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 5, 2022

Díaz arrived at Liverpool during the winter transfer window in a £34 million ($48.8 million) move from Porto, a heavyweight rival of Benfica in Portugal’s Primeira Liga. The winger has scored three goals since, including his smooth run around the Benfica keeper to close out Tuesday’s game.

How good of a signing has Luis Díaz been for Liverpool?!

Upon his return to Portugal, where he used to star for Porto, the Colombian forward burns Benfica. It’s a big goal that makes it 3-1 late in the first leg #UCL

(via @TUDNUSA) pic.twitter.com/GDvfxozZDS

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) April 5, 2022

His assist came on Sadio Mané’s 34th-minute goal, when the Colombian international made a valiant effort to head a cross in front of goal to his on-rushing teammate.

Tuesday’s Champions League quarterfinal first leg kicks off a busy three weeks for Liverpool. There’s Sunday’s trip to the Etihad for a potential Premier League title-decider against Manchester City, and Liverpool follows that with next week’s Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Benfica. Then, there’s another clash with Man City—this time in the FA Cup semifinals—next weekend followed by home matches in the league against longtime rivals Manchester United and Everton.