Bayern Munich 1-0 SL Benfica: Match Player Ratings - A Dominant Display
Bayern Munich continued their march towards the Champions League knockout stages with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over SL Benfica at the Allianz Arena. The match wasn't a complete blowout, but the Bavarians' dominance was clear, especially in the second half.
Let's take a look at the individual performances and dish out some match ratings:
Bayern Munich
Manuel Neuer (8/10): The German legend didn't have much to do in the first half, but he came up clutch in the second with a couple of crucial saves. He's still a wall.
Benjamin Pavard (7/10): A solid performance, both defensively and offensively. His crosses were accurate, and he was always a threat down the right flank.
Dayot Upamecano (7/10): Upamecano was a rock at the back, winning his aerial duels and snuffing out Benfica's attacks. He's become a vital piece of Bayern's defense.
Lucas Hernandez (7/10): Lucas Hernandez was in fine form, showcasing his usual mix of aggression and composure. He made some crucial tackles and interceptions, and even got forward with some decent runs.
Alphonso Davies (7/10): Davies was a whirlwind on the left wing, creating havoc with his pace and dribbling. He was a constant threat, but unfortunately, his final ball wasn't always as sharp.
Joshua Kimmich (8/10): Kimmich was the orchestrator in midfield, dictating the tempo and finding his teammates with pinpoint passes. His vision and control were on point, and he was a constant threat from set pieces.
Leon Goretzka (7/10): A strong performance from Goretzka who covered a lot of ground in midfield and helped to break down Benfica's attacks. He also made a couple of key tackles.
Serge Gnabry (7/10): Gnabry was a livewire in the first half and created several chances. His pace and dribbling were a problem for Benfica's defense. He faded a bit in the second half but still put in a good shift.
Leroy Sane (6/10): Sane had some good moments, showing his silky dribbling skills and pace. He was a bit wasteful in front of goal though.
Jamal Musiala (8/10): Musiala was the difference-maker in this match. He was a constant menace for Benfica's defense with his creativity and movement. He scored the winning goal with a well-taken volley, displaying his clinical finishing.
Thomas Muller (6/10): Muller was always busy, getting into good positions but he couldn't find the back of the net. He had a few decent chances that he missed, but his movement was still a problem for the Benfica defense.
SL Benfica
Odisseas Vlachodimos (7/10): Vlachodimos made some excellent saves, especially in the first half, to keep his side in the match. He kept Benfica in the game but couldn't stop Musiala's goal.
Alexander Bah (6/10): Bah had his hands full with Davies but did a decent job defensively. He was a bit overwhelmed in the second half though.
Antonio Silva (6/10): Silva was up against a tough opponent in Upamecano but did a reasonable job. He struggled at times, especially in the air.
Morato (6/10): A solid performance from Morato who made some crucial interceptions. He was defensively sound but didn't have a lot of opportunities to go forward.
Alejandro Grimaldo (6/10): Grimaldo struggled against the pace of Gnabry and Davies. He had a tough time defending and didn't offer much going forward.
Florentino Luis (6/10): Luis was a bit overrun in midfield, especially in the second half. He had a few good moments, but the Bayern midfield dominated the game.
João Mario (6/10): João Mario had a few decent passes and moments of control in midfield, but he wasn't able to exert much influence on the game.
David Neres (6/10): Neres had a few chances but he couldn't make the most of them. His pace and dribbling skills were a threat, but he was a bit isolated at times.
Rafa Silva (5/10): A quiet game for Rafa Silva, he was largely ineffective in the final third and didn't create much danger.
Gonçalo Ramos (5/10): Ramos was outmuscled by the Bayern defense and struggled to make a real impact on the game. He had a few chances, but he couldn't get on the scoresheet.
Overall: A dominant performance from Bayern Munich. They showed their class and were deserved winners, but Benfica showed their grit and made the game tough in the first half. Musiala was the hero for Bayern, scoring the only goal and leading the charge for the Bavarians.