[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Portuguese Primeira Liga champions Benfica expressed solidarity with coronavirus-stricken China before their home league match against Sporting Braga on Saturday.

Before kick-off, players from both Benfica and Braga wore shirts with the message, "Stay strong China, we are together" in Mandarin as a show of support to Chinese people, whose country is currently struggling to deal with the virus.

The same message could also be seen in the center of the pitch, in front of the players' line-up and on the big screens at the Stadium of Light.

"On my behalf and on behalf of Sport Lisboa e Benfica, I want to express a feeling of deep solidarity with our friends from the People's Republic of China, at this very difficult time, that we are sure they will be able to overcome," said Benfica president Domingos Soares de Oliveira.