Bayern look to bounce back against Benfica

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While Bayern have been on fire in the Bundesliga, their European form hasn't quite followed suit. They have lost two of their three opening games, the most recent of which was a 4-1 loss away at Hansi Flick and Robert Lewandowski's Barcelona. Bayern do come into this game on the back of a 3-0 win over Union Berlin in the league, with the goals coming from Harry Kane (two) and Kingsley Coman. For this clash, Vincent Kompany will again be without Aleksandar Pavlović, Josip Stanišić and Hiroki Ito, while Sacha Boey has only just returned to training, leaving the Bavarians' slightly short at the back. As they look to get back on track in continental competition, Bayern will be looking towards the likes of Michael Olise and Jamal Musiala to support the competition's leading goalscorer Kane.

Benfica also come into this game on the back of a defeat in their previous European fixture, a 3-1 loss to Feyenoord. This was their first reverse in the tournament this term, though, with the 4-0 win over Atlético Madrid the standout result. Kerem Aktürkoğlu was on the scoresheet in that one, and with three goals already in the tournament, he'll be someone that Bayern have to keep their eye on. Domestically, they sit third in the table, having won seven matches this term, including last time out against Farense (2-1). Ex-Mainz man Leandro Barreiro, Gianluca Prestianni and Tiago Gouveia are all set to miss out on this clash, but the Portuguese outfit still have plenty of players that can cause Bayern problems, such as striker Vangelis Pavlidis and former Real Madrid winger and FIFA World Cup winner Ángel Di María.

Watch: Bayern ease past Union to remain undefeated 

Match stats

• Kane’s 17 goal contributions in the Champions League since the start of 2023/24 are the most of any player. His 13 goals are the joint most by a Bayern player in their first 15 appearances, along with Roy Makaay.
• Leroy Sané has been directly involved in five goals in two Champions League appearances against Benfica (three goals, two assists), averaging a goal or assist every 32 minutes.
• Bayern have played 12 European matches against Benfica and have never lost (W9, D3) – it’s the most one side has faced another without losing across all major European competitions.
• The record for fixtures in Munich is six wins from six for Bayern by an aggregate score of 24-6.
• Renato Sanches made 53 appearances for Bayern after signing from Benfica in 2016, winning two Bundesliga titles.
• Jan-Niklas Beste finished joint-second in the Bundesliga for assists last season with 11 for promoted Heidenheim, also scoring eight goals as they qualified for the UEFA Conference League.

Probable teams

Bayern: Neuer (c) - Guerreiro, Upamecano, Kim, Davies - Kimmich, Palhinha - Olise, Musiala, Gnabry - Kane
Out: Ito (foot), Pavlović (collarbone), Stanišić (knee)
Doubtful: Boey (knee)
Coach: Vincent Kompany 

Benfica: Trubin - Bah, Araújo, Otamendi (c), Carreras - Aursnes, Luís, Kökçü - Di María, Pavlidis, Aktürkoğlu
Out: Barreiro (hamstring), Gouveia (shoulder), Prestianni (ankle)
Doubtful: -
Coach: Bruno Lage

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