FC Bayern are well placed to reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League after Arturo Vidal’s early goal secured them a 1-0 win over Benfica at Munich’s Allianz Arena.
Despite the lightning start, Pep Guardiola’s side ultimately laboured to a narrow victory, although it could have been a much more comfortable result for the record German champions. The second leg takes place next Wednesday at the Estádio da Luiz (20:45 CEST).
Vidal scores after 108 seconds
It took less than two minutes for Arturo Vidal to open the scoring with his first Champions League goal for Bayern. In the end, that’s all it took for FCB to record their eleventh straight European win at home, although they needed some luck in the second half to see the clean sheet across the line.
Bayern started brilliantly in front of 70,000 at the Allianz Arena, with Guardiola’s decision to bring Juan Bernat into the back four in place of Javi Martinez immediately justified. The young Spaniard’s cross from the left found the unmarked Vidal and he easily headed into the bottom corner.
The Munich side continued to push forward. Benfica barely got out of their own half in the early stages, although it wasn’t exactly a case of the Portuguese outfit parking the bus.
Bayern take their foot off the gas
After a great 15 minutes, Bayern lost their rhythm as Benfica began to make their mark on the game. Mitroglou’s header on 19 minutes zipped just wide, although Thomas Müller had a good chance to make it 2-0 at the other end moments later, only to be denied on the volley by Ederson. The final pass then failed FCB, as key influencers such as Thiago started to drop deeper and deeper in search of the ball.
The Reds continued to struggle after the break, as a fine save from Manuel Neuer was needed to deny Benfica’s Jonas from levelling the scores around the hour mark. There was another chance for the striker, who will miss the return leg through suspension, but Bayern’s defence threw themselves in the way of his and teammate Mitroglou’s close-range efforts to keep the clean sheet intact. The match should have finished 2-0 to the hosts, but in the 90th minute, Robert Lewandowski’s lay-off to Philipp Lahm when in alone in front of the keeper was disastrously overhit.
FC Bayern are well placed to reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League after Arturo Vidal’s early goal secured them a 1-0 win over Benfica at Munich’s Allianz Arena.
Despite the lightning start, Pep Guardiola’s side ultimately laboured to a narrow victory, although it could have been a much more comfortable result for the record German champions. The second leg takes place next Wednesday at the Estádio da Luiz (20:45 CEST).
Vidal scores after 108 seconds
It took less than two minutes for Arturo Vidal to open the scoring with his first Champions League goal for Bayern. In the end, that’s all it took for FCB to record their eleventh straight European win at home, although they needed some luck in the second half to see the clean sheet across the line.
Bayern started brilliantly in front of 70,000 at the Allianz Arena, with Guardiola’s decision to bring Juan Bernat into the back four in place of Javi Martinez immediately justified. The young Spaniard’s cross from the left found the unmarked Vidal and he easily headed into the bottom corner.
The Munich side continued to push forward. Benfica barely got out of their own half in the early stages, although it wasn’t exactly a case of the Portuguese outfit parking the bus.
Bayern take their foot off the gas
After a great 15 minutes, Bayern lost their rhythm as Benfica began to make their mark on the game. Mitroglou’s header on 19 minutes zipped just wide, although Thomas Müller had a good chance to make it 2-0 at the other end moments later, only to be denied on the volley by Ederson. The final pass then failed FCB, as key influencers such as Thiago started to drop deeper and deeper in search of the ball.
The Reds continued to struggle after the break, as a fine save from Manuel Neuer was needed to deny Benfica’s Jonas from levelling the scores around the hour mark. There was another chance for the striker, who will miss the return leg through suspension, but Bayern’s defence threw themselves in the way of his and teammate Mitroglou’s close-range efforts to keep the clean sheet intact. The match should have finished 2-0 to the hosts, but in the 90th minute, Robert Lewandowski’s lay-off to Philipp Lahm when in alone in front of the keeper was disastrously overhit.
