Bayern Munich are in need of three points when they take on Benfica.
Bayern Munich are in need of three points when they take on Benfica in their fourth game of the Champions League’s league phase on Wednesday night.
The Vincent Kompany era has so far boasted domestic promise, but the Belgian’s side suffered a chastening defeat last time out in this competition as they were blown away by a coming-of-age Barcelona performance in Catalonia.
Bayern’s 4-1 defeat followed up a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa in the West Midlands, leaving Kompany’s side languishing at the wrong end of the league phase table and with plenty of work to do if they’re to climb into a top eight position. Time is on their side, however.
The Bavarian giants are facing a Benfica side that have lost just once under Bruno Lage’s tutelage, but that defeat did arrive on Matchday 3 of the league phase. Benfica were woeful in a 3-1 home defeat to Feyenoord, yet they do sit 13th in the table and in a relatively strong position having won their opening two games.
Unlike Bayern, they don’t lead their domestic division heading into this fixture, but Lage’s side have won five straight in the Primeira Liga and are hunting down an excellent Sporting CP team at the summit.
Bayern lineup vs Benfica (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Guerreiro, Kim, Upamecano, Davies; Kimmich, Palhinha; Olise, Musiala, Gnabry; Kane.
Benfica lineup vs Bayern (4-3-3): Trubin; Bah, Otamendi, Araujo, Carreras; Kokcu, Florentino, Aursnes; Di Maria, Pavlidis, Akturkoglu.
