clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Benfica 0-4 Bayern Munich: Initial reactions and observations

Bayern gave Benfica hope for 69 minutes. Nice.

FC Bayern Muenchen v 1. FC Koeln - Bundesliga Photo by Tom Weller/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

Initial reactions and observations

  • Bayern Munich did much better in the second half, hemming Benfica in and peppering their goal with chances. Subbing Pavard for Gnabry gave the Bavarians an actual attacking threat from the right, and the Portuguese side fell apart soon after.
  • Leroy Sane has been magnificent this season. He’s taken a level in every aspect of his play — positioning, passing, runs, shooting, and even free kicks. Today he played like the player he gets paid to be. Coman’s salary demands are currently looking tough to justify.
  • Let’s not forget Manuel Neuer! The Bayern captain kept things level while his team was struggling to find its feet. His saves were definitely the difference today, as Benfica played far better than the 4-0 scoreline suggests.
  • Lots of Barcelona fans probably breathed a sigh of relief at Sane’s goal. You’re welcome!
  • Bayern Munich are in a good position to top their Champions League group. Nags is doing well in the competition thus far.

Full time: Benfica 0-4 Bayern Munich.


83’ — GOAL! Sane gets another! 4-0 to Bayern!


82’ — GOAL! Lewandowski makes it three! Looks like that puts the game to bed.


79’ — GOAL! Own goal for Benfica. Gnabry forces Everton to head it in.


69’ — GOAL! WHAT A STRIKE BY LEROY SANE! EXCELLENT FREE KICK!


65’ — We’re 65 minutes in and now Gnabry is on for Pavard. Maybe time to attack some more down the right.


51’ — Now Thomas Muller’s goal has been ruled out for offside.


45’ — The second half is underway!


Halftime observations and analysis

  • Benfica have frustrated Bayern Munich quite well, but the strange formation hasn’t helped. Nagelsmann maybe shouldn’t have gone for this weird asymmetrical back-three.
  • Benjamin Pavard just doesn’t work as a right wingback. He can’t attack, and this position means he can’t defend either. With Nags out, ToppMoller should sub the Frenchman off and switch to a standard 4-2-3-1.
  • Having two wingers on the left to offset Alphonso Davies’ absence isn’t working so far. Maybe a normal formation would work better.

Halftime: 0-0 to both sides.


42’ — Handball. Lewandowski’s goal has been ruled out.


30’ — We’re half an hour in and no goals yet. Bayern are really struggling to break down this defense.


Kickoff: We’re underway in Lisbon!


One hour until kickoff: We have lineups! Kingsley Coman returns to the XI, while Sabitzer gets his first start!

Unfortunately, coach Thomas Muller better be up to the task, because Julian Nagelsmann is sitting this one out.

Get well soon, Julian!


After winning the Champions League here one year ago, Bayern Munich once again return to familiar hunting grounds in the Estadio da Lux. This time, the hosts are home and ready to play — SL Benfica will be looking for all three points.

Julian Nagelsmann needs to win this game without two key players. Alphonso Davies, who has been the coach’s star man throughout the season, misses this one due to a hamstring injury. He’ll likely have to be replaced by Lucas Hernandez. Meanwhile Leon Goretzka is likely to be out due to a cold, which gives Marcel Sabitzer a chance to show what he’s capable of in a proper 90 minute game.

For Nagelsmann, this’ll be a test of his ability to adapt to crappy circumstances. Benfica are no pushovers — they’re a legitimately good team. To beat them away from home without two key players is a huge challenge for any manager. Can he rise to the task?

It’s Bayern time.


Match Info

Location: Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal

Time: 9:00 pm local time, 3:00 pm EST

TV/streaming: Paramount+, Find Your Country

Tips for commenting:

  1. If you’re a new member, feel free to introduce yourself! We’re mostly very friendly! Also, we’re from all parts of the world so don’t feel shy if you’re from a country that doesn’t seem represented on the blog.
  2. If the comments section starts to slow down for you, just hit the refresh button and keep commenting. It’s not necessary to have the whole comments loaded at one time while you’re just casually following along.
  3. Keep the sorting to “newest” to easily follow the conversation. It puts the newest comments at the top.
  4. Here at BFW we celebrate every goal like they do in the stadium: with a chant. The goal chants are for everyone to participate in! Even if you’re lagging behind the others, keep replying to the most recent call of the player’s name. Even if you missed the first call, just start from the second, and so on.
  5. While swearing is allowed within reason, please be polite to your fellow posters and avoid gratuitous obscenities. Racist, homophobic, and misogynistic language is not allowed whatsoever.

Check out our beginners thread if you have any more questions. That’s about it. Auf geht’s!

Looking for an unending well of Bayern Munich content? Sign up for an SBNation account and join the conversation on Bavarian Football Works. Whether it’s full match coverage and analysis, breaking news, podcasts or something completely different, we have it all.

Sign up for the newsletter Sign up for the Bavarian Football Works Daily Roundup newsletter!

A daily roundup of Bayern Munich news from Bavarian Football Works