Jamal Musiala to the Rescue as Bayern Edge Past Benfica in Champions League Clash
Vincent Kompany gave Bayern Munich a vital Champions League victory over Benfica thanks to a goal from Jamal Musiala after Harry Kane provided an assist.
Bayern was in a dismal 28th place out of 36 clubs going into the game after suffering two straight European losses to Aston Villa and Barcelona. Bayern’s first-half performance was lackluster, characterized by haphazard attacks and little inventiveness, despite the necessity for a victory.
In order to counter danger, Benfica crowded the middle of the field while letting Bayern retain possession. Issa Kabore and Alvaro Carreras, the full-backs for Benfica, successfully stopped wide threats from Michael Olise and Serge Gnabry, forcing Bayern to shift play to the wings.
Second-Half Recovery
Leroy Sane was brought in to replace Olise because Bayern needed a spark. Bayern redoubled their efforts to put more pressure on Benfica’s defense. Sane’s accurate cross from the right in the 67th minute was the game-changing moment. Musiala easily finished with a header after Harry Kane, in the ideal position, diverted the ball across the goal.
Bayern controlled the rest of the game after taking the lead, holding onto the lead as they ran out of time to win. This win gave the Bundesliga leaders a much-needed boost, moving Bayern to 17th place in the rankings, barely above Real Madrid.