Date: November 6, 2024
Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich
Kick-Off: 20:00 CET
Bayern Munich and Benfica go head-to-head this Wednesday evening at the Allianz Arena, each looking to respond after heavy losses in their last Champions League matches. Vincent Kompany’s Bayern were defeated 4-1 at the hands of Barcelona, while Benfica lost 3-1 to Feyenoord in Lisbon.
Match Preview
Bayern Munich Recent Form
Allianz Arena will be expecting a solid comeback from Bayern, who suffered defeat recently. In a humiliating game against Barcelona, the headline makers were ex-Bayern star Robert Lewandowski and ex-Leeds United ace Raphinha as Raphinha scored a hat-trick. The only goal for Bayern came from Harry Kane on a penalty whereby they managed to equalize momentarily before Barcelona pulled ahead. That defeat to Barcelona was a sequel to an earlier defeat to Aston Villa with the lone goal, making Bayern winless in two Champions League games.
However, Bayern has since bounced back, securing three consecutive victories across all competitions, netting 12 goals and not letting in any in the process in hard-fought recent wins over VfL Bochum, Mainz 05 in the DFB-Pokal and Union Berlin, a 3-0 win against whom saw the Bavarians go three points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.
Benfica’s Recent Form
Bruno Lage’s Benfica had their own wake-up call two weeks ago as they went down 3-1 to Feyenoord. The Eredivisie giants gave Estadio da Luz a nasty shock with Ayase Ueda and Antoni Milambo putting Benfica on their heels. A consolation goal by Kerem Akturkoglu wasn’t enough to avoid the first Champions League defeat this season for Benfica.
Since that defeat, momentum has returned to Benfica’s camp with a 5-0 win over Rio Ave, a 3-0 victory over Santa Clara in the Taca da Liga, and a narrow 2-1 win over Farense in the Primeira Liga. They are seated 13th in the Champions League standings, well within the playoff zone. History is, however against them: Benfica have never won a European match in Germany and has an extremely poor record against Bayern, having lost seven and drawn three of their 10 previous meetings.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Bayern Munich
Bayern has a few injuries, but nothing too serious: Sacha Boey with his knee, Josip Stanisic with his knee, Aleksandar Pavlovic with his collarbone, and Hiroki Ito with his foot-everyone ruled out, but really, none of them would’ve probably started in this one. Harry Kane, so prolific this season with 17 goals and five assists in just 14 appearances, will once again lead the line supported by a likely unchanged squad from their recent win in the Bundesliga.
Predicted Bayern Munich Starting XI:
Neuer; Guerreiro, Kim, Upamecano, Davies; Kimmich, Palhinha; Olise, Musiala, Coman; Kane.
Benfica
Benfica will be without Gianluca Prestianni due to an ankle injury, Leandro Barreiro with a thigh problem and Tiago Gouveia due to a shoulder concern. Right-back Alexander Bah was withdrawn at half-time in the win over Farense, but this seemed tactical and not due to an injury worry. Kerem Akturkoglu has been in tremendous form, scoring in each of his three Champions League outings so far and may prove key to how Benfica line up in an attacking sense.
Predicted Benfica Starting XI:
Trubin; Bah, Otamendi, Araujo, Carreras; Kokcu, Florentino, Aursnes; Di Maria, Pavlidis, Akturkoglu.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 3-1 Benfica
Bayern’s high-scoring form should give them the edge, especially with Harry Kane leading the line. Though Benfica might get on the scoreboard, Bayern’s relentless attack and home-field advantage at the Allianz Arena should ultimately prove a bridge too far for Lage’s side.
