Bayern Munich broke their two-match Champions League losing streak with a hard-fought win over Benfica. Jamal Musiala was the hero of the night, nodding in Harry Kane’s perfectly placed header to break the deadlock in the 67th minute.
The Bundesliga leaders were clearly the dominant side. Benfica’s reserved approach kept them under pressure as Kane and Serge Gnabry fired off dangerous attempts that the keeper kept out. Leroy Sané, coming off the bench, was twice denied by Anatoliy Trubin’s stellar saves.
The victory was crucial for Bayern, who came into this match under a lot of pressure in Europe. Their impressive 9-2 thrashing of Dinamo Zagreb felt like a distant memory after defeats to Aston Villa and Barcelona. However, back at the Allianz Arena, they delivered, moving to 17th in the League Phase table, level on points with Benfica in 19th.
Musiala Shines Amid Bayern’s Recent Struggles
Despite their rocky European form, Bayern are still three points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, with a flawless defensive run of four clean-sheet wins. Musiala’s electric presence has been vital. He’s on fire, with five goals in four matches, three of which came from his head—an impressive leap, considering he had only scored two headers in his Bayern career until a fortnight ago.
Wednesday night, he buzzed around the pitch, driving at defenders and creating space for his teammates. The home crowd loved every bit of it, giving him a standing ovation when Thomas Muller came on to replace him near the end.
Player of the Match Ratings
- Harry Kane: 8.51
The man behind Musiala’s goal, Kane kept Benfica’s defense under pressure all night. - Jamal Musiala: 7.89
His energetic runs and key goal lifted Bayern’s spirits. - Dayot Upamecano: 7.59
Solid in defense, keeping things tight at the back. - Michael Olise: 7.37
Worked tirelessly, pushing forward and tracking back. - Joshua Kimmich: 7.33
Efficient in midfield, dictating the game’s tempo. - Alphonso Davies: 7.27
Quick as always, adding width and pace to Bayern’s attack. - Leroy Sané: 7.00
Dangerous moments off the bench but couldn’t convert.
Benfica’s players put in a shift, but they couldn’t find a breakthrough. Trubin’s heroics kept them in it, but it wasn’t enough to keep Bayern at bay.
