Bayern Munich edged past Benfica with a hard-fought 1-0 win in a tense encounter at the Allianz Arena.
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The game featured moments of brilliant individual play, tactical substitutions, and key defensive interventions. Despite dominating possession, Bayern had to dig deep as Benfica stayed resilient throughout the match.
The match began with Bayern Munich asserting their dominance early, controlling the ball and dictating the pace of play. The Bavarians enjoyed 71% of the ball in the first half, with Benfica struggling to get any sustained possession.
The first real chance of the game came when Harry Kane directed a header towards goal but was unable to find the target.
On the 45-minute mark, Konrad Laimer made a successful aerial challenge against Alvaro Carreras, further establishing Bayern’s control over the match.
Although Benfica had a few promising moments, their attacks were often broken down by the Bayern defense. The first half concluded with the teams heading into the break goalless, but Bayern had clearly shown their dominance on the field.
Bayern Munich came out of the break looking to break the deadlock, and their efforts were rewarded in the 67th minute.
Leroy Sane delivered a perfect cross into the box, which was met by Jamal Musiala, who headed the ball past Benfica’s goalkeeper Anatolii Trubin. The goal was initially reviewed by VAR, but it stood, much to the relief of the home crowd.
The match continued with Bayern maintaining their grip on possession, with Bayern Munich holding 70% of the ball by the 85th minute. Despite Benfica’s attempts to respond, they struggled to break down Bayern’s defense, and they failed to create significant chances.
Harry Kane and Joshua Kimmich were both involved in attempts to extend Bayern’s lead but were denied by Benfica’s resolute defense.
In the final moments of the game, Bayern Munich were in control, with a late substitution bringing on Thomas Muller for Jamal Musiala in the 90th minute to shore up their midfield and secure the win.
Despite Benfica’s efforts, which included a few key interceptions by Nicolas Otamendi and Antonio Silva, Bayern held on for the narrow 1-0 victory.
Both teams made key substitutions throughout the match to try and influence the outcome. For Bayern, Serge Gnabry was replaced by Kingsley Coman in the 72nd minute, while Renato Sanches was substituted for Benjamin Rollheiser in the 86th minute.
Benfica, meanwhile, brought on Angel Di Maria and Vangelis Pavlidis for Kerem Akturkoglu and Zeki Amdouni, respectively, as they tried to bolster their attacking options.
While Bayern Munich dominated possession, Benfica exhibited solid defensive work to keep the scoreline close. Nicolas Otamendi and Antonio Silva were key figures, intercepting crosses and making clearances when necessary.
Despite this, Bayern Munich’s superior attacking play eventually proved too much for the Portuguese side.
As the match drew to a close, Bayern Munich comfortably held onto their lead, with the final whistle blowing at 90+5 minutes. Bayern Munich finished with 70% of the ball, while Benfica had just 30%.
The attendance at the Allianz Arena was recorded at 75,000 spectators, with the home side taking all three points in a well-earned 1-0 victory.
