Softfootball offers an in-depth preview of the Champions League clash between Bayern Munich and Benfica, set to take place at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday evening.
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Both clubs are looking to rebound from harsh defeats in their last European outings, with Bayern facing a 4-1 humiliation against Barcelona, while Benfica suffered a 3-1 loss at home to Feyenoord.
Historically, Bayern Munich’s head coach Hansi Flick has experienced both glory and defeat against Barcelona; he was at the helm during the legendary 8-2 victory over the Catalans in 2019-20. However, his recent encounter with the Spanish giants left a bitter taste after Raphinha’s spectacular hat trick led to Bayern’s second consecutive Champions League loss. Harry Kane managed to temporarily level the score with a penalty, but it was not enough to stop the floodgates from opening.
The Bavarians’ earlier impressive 9-2 victory against Dinamo Zagreb now seems a distant memory, as they currently sit in an unsatisfactory 23rd place in the 36-team Champions League table. However, since their defeat to Barcelona, Bayern has responded emphatically, scoring 12 goals and conceding none in three consecutive victories, including a decisive 3-0 win over Union Berlin. This strong form has helped them establish a three-point lead atop the Bundesliga.
On the other hand, Benfica has also rebounded since their European setback, stringing together three straight victories in domestic competitions. Their most recent win saw them thrash Rio Ave 5-0, followed by a 3-0 win against Santa Clara in the Taca da Liga and a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Farense. Despite these successes, Benfica fans remain anxious as their team has never won any of their previous 13 Champions League matches in Germany, and they have lost seven out of ten encounters with Bayern.
Team News
As for injuries, Bayern Munich is managing the absence of four players: Sacha Boey (knee), Josip Stanisic (knee), Aleksandar Pavlovic (collarbone), and Hiroki Ito (foot), though none were expected to start against Benfica. Harry Kane continues to be a standout player, contributing to an impressive 25 goals in 14 appearances this season, including five goals in the Champions League, making him the tournament’s current top scorer.
Benfica, managed by Bruno Lage, will miss several players due to injuries, including Gianluca Prestianni (ankle), Leandro Barreiro (thigh), and Tiago Gouveia (shoulder). However, no new injuries were reported after their weekend victory over Farense. Alexander Bah’s withdrawal during that match appeared to be a tactical decision rather than an injury concern.
Predicted Lineups
Bayern Munich Possible Starting XI:
Neuer; Guerreiro, Kim, Upamecano, Davies; Kimmich, Palhinha; Olise, Musiala, Coman; Kane
Benfica Possible Starting XI:
Trubin; Bah, Otamendi, Araujo, Carreras; Kokcu, Florentino, Aursnes; Di Maria, Pavlidis, Akturkoglu
With Benfica conceding at least two goals in their last five encounters with Bayern in the Champions League, and the latter’s current form suggesting a return to their free-scoring ways, expect a high-scoring affair at the Allianz Arena. While Bayern is likely to dominate offensively, Benfica will have to pull off a remarkable defensive performance to avoid another painful defeat.
For detailed data analysis, including the most likely results and scorelines for this match, visit Softfootball’s insights page.
