Cards Stacked Against Benfica for Bayern Trip
Munich. A quick look at past and current form might have Benfica wondering whether it is worth even turning up for their Champions League quarter-final tie at Bayern Munich on Tuesday (05/04).
Whether it be Bayern's home record in Europe this season, its record against Portuguese teams or simply the head-to-head record between the Bavarians and Benfica, all the numbers point overwhelmingly to a Bayern win in the first leg.
Benfica will be all too aware that its great rival Porto also faced Bayern at the same stage of the competition last year and was trounced 6-1 at the Allianz Area after shipping five goals in a 22-minute spell in the first half.
In fact, Bayern has won all nine of its previous two-legged knockout ties against Portuguese opposition, including three against Benfica.
Its previous three home games against Benfica ended in one 5-1 and two 4-1 wins, and its overall record against the Eagles is four wins and two draws in six games.
Current form makes even worse reading for Benfica: Bayern has won all four home Champions League games this season, blasting 18 goals in the process.
However, Benfica, who won the old European Cup twice back in the 1960s, has made a habit of defying the odds in the team's first season under coach Rui Vitoria.
"Bayern are really difficult opponents but this team has already got over several barriers this season," he said after Friday's 5-1 league win over Braga.
"This team has achieved things which it appeared impossible to achieve and that is the spirit we will take into the game," said Vitoria, whose side is looking to reach the semi-final for the first time since 1990.
Vitoria looked as if he would last only a few weeks in the job after Benfica began the season by losing three times to neighbors Sporting and was beaten by arch-rivals Porto.
Instead, thr group now find itself five points clear at the top of the league and in the Champions League quarter-finals after winning 19 of its last 20 games in all competitions.
The group's win over Zenit St Petersburg seemed highly unlikely when it was forced to take a make-shift defense to Russia to defend a 1-0 lead in the second leg, yet it came through with a 2-1 win.
Benfica boldly took the tie to its opponents in the first half of that game and may try to do so again on Tuesday.
Especially as Bayern has an injury crisis in defense, where Jerome Boateng and Holger Badstuber are ruled out and Medhi Benatia and Javi Martinez are doubtful.
Juventus showed in the previous round that Bayern can be vulnerable as it went 2-0 ahead inside half an hour. However, Bayern's comeback, where the group scored four goals to win 4-2 after extra time, was yet another ominous example of its strength at home.
"There's not a lot to say," said Vitoria after the draw was made. "It's an incredibly difficult tie."
Reuters
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