Benfica is highly likely to advance to the Europa League playoff round after a resounding 6-1 victory over Hearts in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie. The match, played at Benfica’s home stadium, “A Luz,” saw a dominant performance from the Portuguese side. This significant win all but secures their progression, making the return leg in Edinburgh on Thursday a formality for the Lisbon club. Hearts now face an uphill battle to overturn the substantial deficit. Benfica’s commanding display indicates strong form heading into the next stage of the competition. While the second leg is still to be played, the outcome appears almost certain.