Wednesday 20th October 2021
Benfica is falling apart
FC Bayern celebrates a late goal festival without a sick Nagelsmann
Julian Nagelsmann called in sick shortly before the final whistle, FC Bayern needs some start-up time at Benfica Lisbon. But then the German record champions also shine in the third group game of the Champions League. One goal after the other falls in the final phase.
Third game, four late hits, third victory: FC Bayern opened the door wide to the last 16 of the Champions League even without their ill coach Julian Nagelsmann. Munich won at the site of their second triumph in the premier class late, but deserved 4: 0 (0: 0) against a long time extremely dangerous Benfica Lisbon and are thus close to entering the knockout round of the premier class.
423 days after the magical night at the Estadio da Luz, Leroy Sané (70th / 85th) paved the German record champion’s victory in a long and exciting exchange of blows after Robert Lewandowski (hand) and Thomas Müller (offside) had previously denied hits after video evidence had been. Everton also directed a cross from substitute Serge Gnabry into their own goal (80th), and Lewandowski’s goal (82nd) also counted.
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was also the guarantee for success. The captain parried before the Munich goals in his 100th game in the Champions League with the numerous chances of the hosts several times great. Bayern (9 points) are clearly ahead of Benfica (4) as well as FC Barcelona (3) and Dynamo Kiev (1) in Group E. With another win in the second leg on November 2 against the Portuguese record champions, the intermediate goal of the round of 16 for the group E leaders would already be achieved. Munich have now been undefeated in the Champions League for 20 away and 25 group games.
Neuer has to save the 0-0 a few times
Nagelsmann fell out because of a flu-like infection; his assistant Dino Toppmöller took his place. From the start there was the strong Kingsley Coman, who beheaded Bayern on August 23, 2020 in the same place for the Champions League triumph against Paris St. Germain (1-0). Gnabry first sat on the bench to protect himself. Marcel Sabitzer came for the sick Leon Goretzka to his starting XI debut for Bayern.
Chief assistant Toppmöller was “a bit tense” before the game, but revealed to DAZN that Nagelsmann had given the most important instructions the day before. And they didn’t seem to have been bad: After ten minutes, Munich could have been in the lead against high-quality hosts, Sane (5th) and Lewandowski (9th) had the best chances in a wild initial phase. Other good opportunities followed.
Benfica were, however, equal, especially the three strikers required the highest attention from Munich. The strong Uruguayan Darwin Nunez, with whom Niklas Süle had his problems, had the lead for the hosts on his feet, Neuer prevented it with a brilliant save (33rd). Even when Diogo Goncalves shot (55th), the Munich captain ruled outstandingly.
The former Stuttgart goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos was in no way inferior to Neuer on the other side for a long time. Even when he had to reach behind him, this was without consequences. Shortly before the break, Lewandowski had pushed the ball into the goal with his left upper arm, Müller was offside with his dust goal. The strong Sané’s free kick, however, left no doubts: Unstoppable for the brave Vlachodimos, he chased the ball into the net. After that, Benfica literally fell apart.