Benfica collapse in final twenty minutes in loss to Bayern

Benfica suffered their first loss of their Champions League campaign at home to Bayern Munich 4-0 after holding off the German powerhouse scoreless for the first seventy minutes of the game. Benfica and Bayern went into the half scoreless as Bayern missed some good opportunities from Lewandowski and Coman, Benfica did respond with a glorious chance from Darwin Nunez that was turned aside by Bayern keeper Neuer. Benfica got a scare just before the half when Lewandowski though he had opened the scoring for the visitors but a VAR review negated the goal after a handball was spotted.

The second half saw VAR come into play once again against Bayern just eight minutes into the half as a Muller goal was called back after Coman was caught offside in the build up to the goal. Benfica seemed destined to open the scoring after a couple of chances the first by Diogo Goncalves' who's left footed shot was put over the bar by an outstretched Neuer. Yaremchuk then had his superb individual effort go inches wide of the left post as the hosts pressed to open the scoring.

Bayern would take the game by the horns at the seventy minute when a Leroy Sane free kick from 25 yards found the top right corner of the net. Bayern pressed on and scored again at the eighty minute mark with an own goal by substitute Everton. Bayern striker Lewandowski would add his name to the scoresheet just two minutes later and Sane would get his second of the game just two minutes after that as Bayern did all their damage within fourteen minutes of the second half on their way to their third straight victory of the campaign. Benfica remain second in the group with three games left until the round of 16.

                                         STATS

                 Benfica                                Bayern Munich                                            

                     35%        Ball Possession           65%

                      8              Total shots               21 

                      8           Chances created          16

                     213        Accurate Passes          483

                      4                Corners                   3 

                      0                Offsides                   7

                      3            Shots on Target            7 

Rodrigo Pinho's season comes to an end

Benfica striker Rodrigo Pinho's season has come to an end after the 30 year old had surgery earlier today to repair a rupture in his left anterior cruciate ligament at a Lisbon hospital. Pinho joined Benfica this summer as a free agent after spending four seasons with Madeira club Maritimo, he appeared in only three league games for Benfica this season scoring one goal against Santa Clara in a rare start. The season ending injury to Pinho and with Swiss striker Seferovic also out, the club is down to three strikers at this time.

Benfica suffer double injury blow in Taca win

Benfica escaped their Taca de Portugal third round encounter against Trofense with a 2-1 victory in additional extra time after receiving a scare from the second division side. What Benfica was unable to escape the game with was injuries which were suffered in the game by starting left back Gil Dias and followed by his replacement Lazaro just twenty minutes after coming onto the pitch. Both players suffered muscle injuries on their left legs and join Rodrigo Pinho, Gedson Fernandes and Haris Seferovic in the infirmary.