They may not be lining up against Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, but FC Bayern München’s Champions League quarterfinal clash against Benfica tonight (20:45 CEST) certainly won’t be a formality. "We want to keep a clean sheet above all else, but we need to careful. Their two strikers Mitroglu and Jonas have scored 48 goals between them. They are extremely dangerous," warned World Goalkeeper of the Year Manuel Neuer. Manager Pep Guardiola praised their defence too: "Benfica have arguably the best back four in Europe at the moment," said the Spaniard. "They are a superb team, and are enjoying a very good run of form."
Bayern will do well to look back at their quarterfinal clash from last season, where the German record champions lost the first leg to FC Porto 3-1, before managing to turn it around in the second leg to prevent a shock exit. For that reason, Guardiola does not see his team as clear favourites: "We will take Benfica very seriously. There’s a reason they are winning the league in Portugal," added Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
Robben out, Coman returns
FCB will have to do without star winger Arjen Robben, who has been struggling with adductor muscle problems recently. In addition to the Dutch winger, Jérôme Boateng, Holger Bastuber and Mehdi Benatia are also unavailable. In what is some welcome news for Bayern however, Coman has been ruled fit, and completed the final training session on Monday without any complaints. The centre of defence will most likely be marshalled by Joshua Kimmich and Javi Martinez, with David Alaba and World Cup winner Philipp Lahm starting out wide.
Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Müller will be tasked with causing the Portuguese defence problems up front. Furthermore, Guardiola is hoping that Ribéry can provide a breath of fresh air upon his return. "I have missed him. It is huge for Bayern that he is back," he said, who is expecting a defensive performance from the hosts: "They are very well organised, and won’t give us anything. We won’t get much space with which to create chances."
They may not be lining up against Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, but FC Bayern München’s Champions League quarterfinal clash against Benfica tonight (20:45 CEST) certainly won’t be a formality. "We want to keep a clean sheet above all else, but we need to careful. Their two strikers Mitroglu and Jonas have scored 48 goals between them. They are extremely dangerous," warned World Goalkeeper of the Year Manuel Neuer. Manager Pep Guardiola praised their defence too: "Benfica have arguably the best back four in Europe at the moment," said the Spaniard. "They are a superb team, and are enjoying a very good run of form."
Bayern will do well to look back at their quarterfinal clash from last season, where the German record champions lost the first leg to FC Porto 3-1, before managing to turn it around in the second leg to prevent a shock exit. For that reason, Guardiola does not see his team as clear favourites: "We will take Benfica very seriously. There’s a reason they are winning the league in Portugal," added Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
Robben out, Coman returns
FCB will have to do without star winger Arjen Robben, who has been struggling with adductor muscle problems recently. In addition to the Dutch winger, Jérôme Boateng, Holger Bastuber and Mehdi Benatia are also unavailable. In what is some welcome news for Bayern however, Coman has been ruled fit, and completed the final training session on Monday without any complaints. The centre of defence will most likely be marshalled by Joshua Kimmich and Javi Martinez, with David Alaba and World Cup winner Philipp Lahm starting out wide.
Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Müller will be tasked with causing the Portuguese defence problems up front. Furthermore, Guardiola is hoping that Ribéry can provide a breath of fresh air upon his return. "I have missed him. It is huge for Bayern that he is back," he said, who is expecting a defensive performance from the hosts: "They are very well organised, and won’t give us anything. We won’t get much space with which to create chances."
