Bayern Munich broke their two-game losing streak in the Champions League with a hard-fought win over Benfica. Jamal Musiala was the hero of the night, breaking the deadlock by nodding in Harry Kane’s perfect header in the 67th minute.
The Bundesliga leaders were clearly the dominant team. Benfica’s cautious approach put pressure on Kane and Serge Gnabry, who had dangerous attempts saved by the goalkeeper. Leroy Sané, who came off the bench, was twice denied by excellent saves from Anatoliy Trubin.
The win was very important for Bayern, who came into this match under a lot of pressure in Europe. An impressive 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb seemed like a distant memory after losses to Aston Villa and Barcelona. But back at the Allianz Arena, they have risen to 17th in the league table, level on points with 19th-placed Benfica.
Musiala shines amid Bayern’s recent struggles
Despite a difficult European performance, Bayern is still three points ahead at the top of the Bundesliga, thanks to an impeccable defensive performance with four clean sheet wins. Musiala’s biographical presence was invaluable. He has been on a tear, scoring five goals in four games, three of which have come from his head. It’s an impressive leap considering he had only scored two goals in his Bayern career until two weeks ago.
On Wednesday night, he roamed the field, driving at defenders and creating space for his teammates. The home crowd loved it all and gave Thomas Muller a standing ovation when he came on for him at the last minute.
Player of the Match rating
- harry kane: 8.51
The man behind Musiala’s goal, Kane put pressure on Benfica’s defense all night. - Jamal Musiala: 7.89
His energetic runs and key goals boosted Bayern’s morale. - Dayot Upamecano: 7.59
They keep their backs solid with a solid defense. - Michael Ollis: 7.37
We pushed forward and tracked backwards tirelessly. - Joshua Kimmich: 7.33
Effectively sets the tempo of the game from midfield. - Alphonso Davis: 7.27
Quick as always, he adds width and pace to Bayern’s attack. - Leroy Sane: 7.00
There were some dangerous moments off the bench but they couldn’t convert.
Benfica players took turns but could not find a breakthrough. Trubin’s heroics kept them there, but it wasn’t enough to keep Bayern at bay.
