Benfica collapses late: Bayern celebrate their 13-minute goal fest without Nagelsmann

Wednesday 20 October 2021

Benfica collapses late
Bayern celebrate a 13-minute fest without Nagelsmann

Julian Nagelsmann called up sick shortly before the final whistle, Bayern Munich needs some time to start playing in Benfica Lisbon. But then the record-breaking German champions also shone in the Champions League Group C match. One goal after another falls into the final stage.

The third game, four late strikes, the third win: Bayern opened the door wide to the last 16 of the Champions League even without their ailing coach Julian Nagelsmann. The Munich side won late on the site of their last victory in the first division, but they deserved 4-0 (0-0) against a very dangerous Benfica Lisbon for a long time, and therefore are close to reaching the knockout stage of the Premier League. Class. Nagelsmann had stayed at the hotel due to a “flu-like infection”.

423 days into the magical night at Estadio da Luz, Leroy Sane (70/85) paved the way for the German champions’ record-breaking victory in a long, thrilling exchange of strikes after goals from Robert Lewandowski (hand) and Thomas Muller (offside) previously. He denied after the video evidence was made. Everton also directed a cross from substitute Serge Gnabry to his own net (80), and Lewandowski’s goal (82) was also awarded. 13 minutes, four goals, Benfica was beaten. “We played a very good match,” said the outstanding Sane.

“It was a great evening for us. The second half was great,” said Captain Neuer, who was a guarantee of success. The goalkeeper made a superb save before Sane’s first goal in his 100th Champions League match with the hosts’ best chances. “These were two significant cases,” he said. Sane and Gnabry rushed into the masked guard right after the final whistle for some reason.

Bayern (9 points) are clearly ahead of Benfica (4) as well as Barcelona (3) and Dynamo Kiev (1) in Group E. With another win in the second leg on November 2 against the Portuguese record champion, the average goal was from the round of 16 The fifth group leader has already achieved. Munich is now unbeaten in the Champions League in 20 away matches and 25 group matches.

Neuer must save 0-0 several times

Nagelsmann fell due to a flu-like infection, and was replaced by his assistant, Dino Topmüller. From the start there was the powerful Kingsley Coman, who decapitated Bayern on August 23, 2020 in the same place to win the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain (1-0). Gnabry sat first on the bench to protect himself. Marcel Sabitzer came for ailing Leon Goretzka on his debut for Bayern Munich.

Toppmöller’s assistant chief was “a bit nervous” before the match, but revealed to DAZN that Nagelsmann had given the most important instructions the day before. And it didn’t look like they were bad: Ten minutes later, Munich could have been up front against high-ranking hosts, and Sane (5) and Lewandowski (9) had the best chances in a wild initial stage. Other good opportunities followed.

But Benfica were equal, especially as the three strikers needed the most attention from Munich. Uruguayan Darwin Nunez, whose problems Niklas Sule faced, was at the front for the hosts, and Neuer prevented her from blocking off brilliantly (33). Even when Diogo Goncalves (55th place) shot, the Munich captain was ruling superbly.

For a long time, former Stuttgart goalkeeper Odysseus Flashodemus was not inferior to Neuer on the other side. Even when he had to hold his back, this was without consequences. Shortly before the break, Lewandowski pushed the ball into the goal with his left arm, Muller was offside with his clay goal. However, when Sane’s powerful free shot, there was no longer any doubt: unstoppable for the brave Flashodemos, he chased the ball into the net. After that, Benfica literally collapsed.