Benfica soccer team bus hit by rocks, injuring two players, according to club statement

Benfica soccer team bus hit by rocks, injuring two players, according to club statement

Bus carrying the Benfica soccer team hit rocks, breaking the glass and injuring two players, after they had played their first game since the novel coronavirus halted the season, Benfica football club said in a statement

SHOWS: LISBON, PORTUGAL (FILE - MAY 18, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1.

VARIOUS OF BENFICA PLAYERS RECEIVING CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY / FIREWORKS AT ESTADIO DE LUZ LISBON, PORTUGAL (FILE - APRIL 30, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 2.

VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF BENFICA ESTADIO DE LUZ LISBON, PORTUGAL (JUNE 4, 2020) (STILL IMAGE-MUTE) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 3.

STILL PHOTO OF BENFICA'S JULIAN WEIGL (#28 RED JERSEY) IN ACTION WITH TONDELA'S JOAO PEDRO LISBON, PORTUGAL (FILE - APRIL 11, 2019) (STILL IMAGE-MUTE) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 4.

STILL PHOTO OF BENFICA'S ANDRIJA ZIVKOVIC (RED JERSEY) IN ACTION WITH EINTRACHT FRANKFURT'S FILIP KOSTIC DURING EUROPA LEAGUE QUARTER-FINAL MATCH BELGRADE, SERBIA (FILE - NOVEMBER 20, 2018) (STIL IMAGE-MUTE) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 5.

STILL IMAGE OF SERBIA'S ANDRIJA ZIVKOVIC BEFORE UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE MATCH AGAINST LITHUANIA AT PARTIZAN STADIUM STORY: A bus carrying the Benfica soccer team was stoned on Thursday, breaking the glass and injuring two players, after they had played their first game since the novel coronavirus halted the season, Benfica football club said in a statement.

German midfielder Julian Weigl, 24, and Serbian winger Andrija Zivkovic, 23, were hit with shrapnel and taken to the Hospital da Luz in Lisbon to be treated as a precaution, Benfica said.

The attack on a major motorway between the club's Estadio da Luz and training ground followed Benfica's first game in three months after the season was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Sport Lisboa and Benfica denounce and lament the criminal stoning the bus of its players was victim to," the statement read.

"We guarantee total collaboration with authorities to whom we appeal for the greatest effort to be made in identifying the delinquents responsible for these criminal acts." Portuguese champions Benfica missed the chance to move clear of title rivals Porto at the top of the table after being held to a 0-0 draw by lowly Tondela.

The top two are now level on 60 points with nine rounds of matches remaining.

[L8N2DH6YC] Fans had gathered outside the gates of Benfica's stadium in Lisbon to support the team because restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus outbreak prevented them entering the ground.

(Production: David Grip)