AVES, Portugal: Jose Mourinho began his second spell in charge of Benfica with a comfortable 3-0 win at AVS on Saturday.
Heorhiy Sudakov opened the scoring at the end of the first half for the visitors, with Vangelis Pavlidis netting the second from the penalty spot before the hour mark.
Franjo Ivanovic rounded off the rout for Benfica, who moved second in the table, five points behind leaders Porto having played one fewer match.
The veteran Portuguese coach, back at the helm of the Eagles 25 years on, celebrated the third goal furiously, pumping his first and kicking a cone.
The 62-year-old, who also coached Porto in the Portuguese top flight before leaving in 2004 to join Chelsea, will face both those teams within the next 15 days.
Mourinho, who won trophies with Real Madrid, Manchester United, Inter Milan as well as coaching various other sides, was sacked by Fenerbahce in August.
Benfica ousted coach Bruno Lage this week after a surprise defeat in the Champions League by Azerbaijani minnows Qarabag and appointed Mourinho as his replacement on Thursday.
His first spell at the club lasted just 11 games but Mourinho said on his presentation that he was more “mature” and “altruistic” now.
Mourinho celebrates Benfica return with convincing win
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Mourinho celebrates Benfica return with convincing win
- Mourinho, who won trophies with Real Madrid, Manchester United, Inter Milan as well as coaching various other sides
Bottom club Wolves shock high-flying Aston Villa at Molineux
- Both sides struggled in a dour first half but Wolves seized the initiative 16 minutes into the second period when Gomes gave it a surprise lead
WOLVERHAMPTON, England: João Gomes scored his first Premier League goal of the season and Rodrigo Gomes added a second in stoppage time to give bottom club Wolverhampton a shock 2-0 win over high-flying Aston Villa on Friday.
It was only the second win in the league for a club that remains six points adrift at the bottom of the table and is almost certain to be relegated.
The result was a bitter blow to Villa’s Champions League aspirations and a slap in the face for coach Unai Emery, who was bidding to record his 100th victory in charge of the Birmingham club.
Both sides struggled in a dour first half but Wolves seized the initiative 16 minutes into the second period when Gomes gave it a surprise lead.
Adam Armstrong deftly cushioned a long pass right into the path of the onrushing Gomes and his superbly struck shot gave Emiliano Martínez no chance.
Villa pushed forward as the game went on and it was caught out in stoppage time when Wolves doubled its lead on the break, Rodrigo Gomes doing the damage.
Villa has won only one of its last five league games. The result leaves it 10 points behind leader Arsenal and five behind second-placed Manchester City, having played a game more than both.
Its next two matches are against the clubs immediately below it in the table, Chelsea and Manchester United.
