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 decisive for Bayern, who entered 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 is shining despite Bayern’s recent struggles
Despite their difficult European form, Bayern remain three points clear at the top of the Bundesliga thanks to four clean sheet wins and an impeccable defensive performance. Musiala’s biographical presence was invaluable. He is in great form, scoring 5 goals in 4 games, 3 of which came from his head. It’s an impressive leap forward considering he had only scored two headed 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 speed to Bayern’s attack. - Leroy Sane: 7.00
There were some dangerous moments off the bench but they couldn’t convert.
Benfica players worked in shifts but could not find a breakthrough. Trubin’s heroics kept them there, but it wasn’t enough to keep Bayern at bay.
