Bayern Munich bounced back from two consecutive Champions League defeats to Aston Villa and Barcelona, earning a vital 1-0 win over SL Benfica at the Allianz Arena.
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Despite a lackluster performance, the result was crucial for Bayern’s aspirations in the competition.
From the outset, it was evident that Benfica, under the guidance of Bruno Lage, were ready to frustrate the hosts with a well-organized and disciplined defensive setup.
Bayern dominated possession early in the match, but despite their territorial advantage, they struggled to create meaningful chances. The Benfica defense, led by Nicolás Otamendi, stood firm against Bayern’s attacking efforts. The first half ended goalless, with the hosts failing to break down the Portuguese side.
After the break, the tempo remained sluggish, which suited Benfica as they looked to grow into the game. They introduced fresh attacking players from the bench, hoping to find a breakthrough.
However, despite some growing pressure, Benfica was unable to threaten Bayern’s goal. It was at this point that Jamal Musiala became the match-winner for Bayern.
In the 60th minute, Harry Kane, who had been fairly quiet up to that point, played a brilliant header back across goal, which Musiala met with a precise header into the net, giving Bayern the lead.
From that point onward, the game lost much of its earlier intensity. Benfica’s attempts to break down Bayern were futile, and they failed to register a shot in the Bayern half for the entire 90 minutes. This inability to create clear chances made Bayern’s task far easier as they saw the game out to a 1-0 victory.
The result was a must-win for Bayern, who had accumulated just three points from their first three group-stage matches.
While they were far from their best, the three points were essential for Bayern’s hopes of advancing to the knockout stages. This win will provide a boost to the Bayern dressing room, helping them regroup after two defeats.
Bayern Munich XI:
- Manuel Neuer (4)
- Konrad Laimer (5)
- Kim Min-jae (6)
- Dayot Upamecano (6)
- Alphonso Davies (6)
- Joshua Kimmich (5)
- João Palhinha (5)
- Jamal Musiala (6)
- Michael Olise (4)
- Serge Gnabry (4)
- Harry Kane (6)
Substitutes:
- Leroy Sané (5)
- Kingsley Coman (4)
- Thomas Müller (-)
GGFN Man of the Match: Jamal Musiala (6)
While the match lacked significant quality in terms of play, Musiala was a standout performer. The young German international was always eager to take players on and create chances for his teammates.
He registered two chances created, according to Fotmob, and was directly involved in the match-winning goal.
Musiala’s performance is noteworthy given his previous struggles to make an impact in big matches for Bayern. Against Benfica, however, he rose to the occasion and ensured that Bayern came away with the vital three points.
His contribution, particularly at a time when Bayern were struggling for inspiration, highlighted his potential as a key player for Bayern moving forward in the Champions League.
This win not only ended Bayern’s poor run in the competition but also provided them with some much-needed confidence as they look to progress through the rest of the group stage.
