Bayern Munich vs Benfica Prediction and Preview – 05/04/16
Champions League preview – Bayern Munich vs Benfica prediction.
Bayern Munich wideman Douglas Costa could be asked to play on the right wing due to doubts surrounding the availability of Arjen Robben and Kingsley Coman who would normally play that role. Pep Guardiola is without central defenders Jerome Boateng (groin) and Holger Badstuber (ankle) while Mehdi Benatia may miss out as he struggles with a thigh strain.
Ederson is set to continue in goal while regular Benfica goalkeeper Julio Cesar recovers from an abductor strain. Andre Almeida missed the second leg in St Petersburg when Benfica eliminated Zenit in the round of 16 but is expected to start at right back. Andreas Samaris could move back to midfield after proving cover in central defence. Rui Vitoria has experienced Brazilian centre-back Jardel available and 21-year-old Swede Viktor Lindelof who has become a regular since breaking into the first team in early February.
Possible Line-ups
Bayern Munich 4-1-4-1 formation: Neuer; Lahm, Kimmich, Martinez, Alaba; Alonso; Costa, Muller, Vidal, Ribery; Lewandowski
Benfica 4-4-2 formation: Ederson; Almeida, Lindelof, Jardel, Eliseu; Pizzi, Samaris, Sanches, Gaitan; Mitroglou, Jonas
Statistics
- Bayern Munich have won 6 drawn 3 and lost 1 of their last 10 matches
- Benfica have won 6 drawn 3 and lost 1 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Bayern Munich have scored an average of 3 goals and conceded an average of 0.9 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Benfica have scored an average of 1.7 goals and conceded an average of 0.4 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 9 of Bayern Munich’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 5 of Benfica’s previous 10 matches
Prediction
Bayern Munich did not impress when recording two narrow 1-0 victories in the Bundesliga following their scare in the last round of the Champions League. Guardiola’s men had let slip a two goal lead in Turin allowing Juventus to go into the second leg all square. It took a last minute equaliser from Thomas Muller to take the game to extra time when Bayern eventually won the tie. Bayern had previously won nine successive home games in the Champions League.
Benfica are flying high, five points clear at the top of the Primeira Liga and have won the last eight competitive games. This is the first time Benfica have reached the Champions League quarter-finals since being eliminated by Chelsea in 2012, when coincidently qualifying at the expense of Zenit in the round of 16. Vitoria’s side has won two of its four away games in this season’s competition, 2-1 at Atletico Madrid and 2-1 at Zenit.
Bayern Munich must step up on recent performances or could find themselves on the wrong end of a shock result against a Benfica side brimming with confidence.
Tips
Bayern Munich to win at 1/5 with William Hill
Under 2.5 goals at 161/100 with Marathonbet
Bayern Munich to win 2-0 at 5/1 with BetVictor
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