Bayern Munich 1-0 SL Benfica: Player Ratings - A Grudging Victory
Bayern Munich scraped past Benfica in a tense 1-0 Champions League victory, but it wasn't the kind of performance that would have Bayern fans celebrating. Let's break down the game and see how the players performed:
Bayern Munich
Manuel Neuer (7.5): A solid performance from the veteran keeper. Made a couple of crucial saves, especially in the second half, keeping Benfica at bay.
Benjamin Pavard (6.5): A mixed bag for Pavard. Defensively he was alright, but his attacking contributions were pretty quiet.
Matthijs de Ligt (7): Dominant in the air and a strong presence in the box, De Ligt was a rock at the back.
Dayot Upamecano (6): Some shaky moments for Upamecano, especially in the first half. Needs to be more confident on the ball.
Alphonso Davies (7.5): A real threat on the left flank. Davies' pace and skill were on full display, creating some decent chances for Bayern.
Joshua Kimmich (7): Controlled the midfield with his usual composure. Kimmich's passing range and vision were crucial for Bayern's build-up play.
Leon Goretzka (6.5): Goretzka put in a solid shift, but struggled to make a real impact on the game.
Serge Gnabry (6.5): Not his usual self. Gnabry looked a little lost at times and couldn't quite find his shooting boots.
Thomas Müller (6.5): A frustrating night for Müller. He was involved in the build-up but couldn't quite find the killer pass.
Kingsley Coman (7): Coman looked dangerous going forward, creating Bayern's best chances. Sadly, he couldn't convert those chances himself.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (8): The hero of the night! Choupo-Moting's late header secured the victory. He was a handful for the Benfica defense all night.
Substitutions:
Jamal Musiala (6.5): Added some much-needed energy and flair to the attack when he came on.
Ryan Gravenberch (6): Came on to solidify midfield but didn't have much time to make an impact.
Sadio Mané (6.5): Mané provided a late spark, but it wasn't enough to truly change the game.
SL Benfica
Odisseas Vlachodimos (7): Made some important saves and kept Benfica in the game.
Alexander Bah (6): A solid defensive performance from Bah. He struggled to get forward but kept Davies relatively quiet.
Antonio Silva (6): A tough night for the young defender. He had some moments of brilliance but was caught out on occasion by Bayern's attacking threat.
Morato (6): A solid performance from Morato, he was comfortable in possession and dealt with Choupo-Moting well for most of the game.
Alejandro Grimaldo (6.5): A constant threat on the left flank. Grimaldo’s deliveries were accurate, but Benfica couldn’t capitalize on them.
Florentino Luis (6): A tireless worker in midfield, but struggled to make a real impact on the game.
Chiquinho (6.5): Chiquinho tried to inject some creativity into Benfica's attack but was ultimately ineffective.
João Mário (6.5): A decent performance from João Mário. He was involved in the build-up but lacked a cutting edge.
David Neres (6): Neres looked dangerous at times but couldn't quite break through Bayern's defense.
Gonçalo Ramos (6.5): Struggled to get into the game. Had some chances but couldn't find the back of the net.
Substitutions:
Rafa Silva (6): Added pace and directness to the attack when he came on.
Casper Tengstedt (6): Not enough time to make a real impact.
Overall, this was a tense and underwhelming performance from Bayern Munich. They lacked their usual fluidity and intensity, but still managed to secure a vital victory. Benfica, on the other hand, were unlucky not to get at least a draw. They played with heart and determination but ultimately lacked that final bit of quality in the final third.