Bayern Munich Demolish SL Benfica: Player Ratings from a Dominant Display
Bayern Munich continued their dominant run in the Champions League, absolutely dismantling SL Benfica in a 5-0 thrashing at the Allianz Arena. The Bavarians were in complete control from the first whistle, with goals from a hat-trick hero, a brace from another, and a team performance that left Benfica reeling. Here's a breakdown of the player ratings from a game that showcased Bayern's sheer brilliance.
Bayern Munich:
Manuel Neuer (9/10): Neuer was a spectator for most of the game, but he showed his class with a couple of crucial saves, especially in the second half when Benfica briefly threatened. A commanding presence, as always.
Josip Stanisic (8/10): A solid performance from the young right-back. Stanisic was a rock defensively and provided a consistent attacking threat down the flank. A real bright spot for Bayern.
Matthijs de Ligt (8/10): The Dutch defender was a wall at the back, intercepting passes and making crucial tackles with ease. Dominated the air and looked every bit the leader in the heart of the Bayern defense.
Dayot Upamecano (7/10): A bit shaky at times, but Upamecano was generally solid alongside de Ligt. Made some key interceptions and didn't let anything slip past him.
Alphonso Davies (8/10): Davies was a whirlwind on the left flank, constantly surging forward and creating havoc in the Benfica defense. His pace and dribbling skills were too much for the Portuguese side to handle.
Joshua Kimmich (9/10): Kimmich pulled the strings from midfield, dictating the tempo of the game and distributing the ball with pinpoint accuracy. His vision and passing range were on full display.
Leon Goretzka (8/10): A tireless performance from Goretzka. He won tackles, broke up play, and linked the midfield and attack perfectly. A real engine for the Bayern machine.
Serge Gnabry (9/10): Gnabry was a constant menace on the right wing. His pace and trickery were too much for the Benfica defenders to handle. He capped off a great performance with a brace, including a stunning volley that left the goalkeeper stunned.
Jamal Musiala (10/10): The man of the match! Musiala was simply sensational, scoring a hat-trick and showcasing his unbelievable talent. He was a constant threat, his dribbling skills were mesmerizing, and he finished with clinical precision. A truly magical performance.
Kingsley Coman (7/10): A good performance from Coman. He caused problems for the Benfica defense with his pace and directness, even if he didn't get on the scoresheet this time.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (7/10): Led the line well, offering a strong target for his teammates and dropping deep to get involved in the build-up play. Had a goal disallowed for offside but played his role effectively.
Substitutes:
Sadio Mané (6/10): Came on in the second half and added some fresh energy to the Bayern attack. His pace and trickery caused problems for the Benfica defense, but he couldn't get on the scoresheet.
Thomas Müller (6/10): Came on late to add some creativity to the attack. His quick thinking and passing range could have helped set up more goals, but Benfica was already crumbling by this point.
Ryan Gravenberch (N/A): Came on in the closing stages and didn't have enough time to make an impact.
SL Benfica:
Odysseas Vlachodimos (4/10): A nightmare performance for the Benfica goalkeeper. He was completely helpless against Bayern's onslaught, conceding five goals and struggling to get a hand to any of them.
Alexander Bah (4/10): Completely overwhelmed by the pace and power of Davies. Had a tough time defensively and struggled to get forward.
Antonio Silva (5/10): An experienced defender, but Silva had a difficult time containing Musiala's brilliance. Made some good tackles but was ultimately overmatched.
Morato (4/10): Struggled alongside Silva, with Musiala finding him easy to beat. Didn't offer much in attack either.
Alejandro Grimaldo (4/10): Had a tough time against Gnabry's pace and trickery. Couldn't provide much cover for the full-back and got caught out on numerous occasions.
João Mário (5/10): A decent performance from Mário, but he was unable to create anything in the Bayern midfield. Struggled to get a foothold in the game and was largely ineffective.
Chiquinho (5/10): Tried to bring some energy to the Benfica midfield, but he was constantly outmuscled and overrun by the Bayern players.
David Neres (5/10): Offered some pace and directness on the wing, but he was largely ineffective and rarely saw the ball.
Rafa Silva (4/10): Struggled to impose himself on the game and failed to get into dangerous positions. A frustrating performance for the Benfica forward.
Gonçalo Ramos (5/10): Tried to hold the ball up and provide an outlet for his team, but he received very little service and couldn't make an impact.
Substitutes:
Fredrik Aursnes (5/10): Came on in the second half to try and add some energy and control to the Benfica midfield, but it was too little too late.
Diogo Gonçalves (5/10): Came on late in the game and tried to inject some pace into the Benfica attack, but he was unable to get involved.
Enzo Fernández (N/A): Came on in the closing stages and didn't have enough time to make an impact.
This was a truly dominant performance from Bayern Munich. They were simply too good for Benfica, with Musiala's brilliance the standout moment of the match. Benfica struggled to cope with the pressure and intensity of Bayern's play, and they will need to improve significantly if they want to progress further in the competition.