Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the third-round group stage clashes is set for Tuesday at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, where Portuguese side Benfica will take on Bayern Munich. I'm backing a bet on goals in this encounter, with solid odds for success.
Match preview
After their emphatic goal-fest against Oakland City, Benfica finally reminded everyone of their attacking prowess. Six unanswered goals against the New Zealanders eased some of the skepticism brewing among fans following four consecutive setbacks on the international stage. However, heading into the clash with Bayern, the Lisbon side knows they won't enjoy the same luxury of time and space as they did against Oakland when facing the German giants.
Interestingly, Bruno Lage's team tends to find its rhythm in the second half — it's after the break that the Eagles most often unlock their opponents' defense. This gives Benfica the option of adopting a patient, wait-and-see approach with an eye toward a late surge, especially if a draw suits both sides. Still, it's important to remember: the Portuguese defense is far from perfect and has let them down in tense encounters before.
Under Vincent Kompany, Bayern Munich continue to steadily reinforce their status as tournament favorites. The win over Boca Juniors was a key milestone: Bayern not only became the first team in this Club World Cup campaign to beat a South American club, but did so while maintaining a fine balance between attack and defense. However, conceding against the Argentinians was a reminder that the German powerhouse is also vulnerable at the back, so they can't afford to relax against Benfica.
Bayern stick to their trademark style: an early goal, relentless pressure all over the pitch, and clinical finishing. Bayern consistently rack up the goals — scoring two or more in seven of their last nine international outings speaks for itself. And even if a 'tactical' draw is on the cards, it doesn't mean the fans will be denied goals: this team knows how to put on a show in both halves.
Probable lineups
- Benfica: Anatoliy Trubin; Álvaro Fernández Carreras, António Silva, Nicolás Otamendi; Fredrik Aursnes, Leandro Barreiro, Orkun Kökçü, Kerem Aktürkoğlu; Ángel Di María, Vangelis Pavlidis, Gianluca Prestianni.
- Bayern: Manuel Neuer; Josip Stanišić, Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan Tah, Raphaël Guerreiro; Michael Olise, Konrad Laimer, Leon Goretzka; Kingsley Coman, Harry Kane, Serge Gnabry.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Bayern are unbeaten in their last seven Champions League meetings with Benfica.
- In five of those encounters, at least two goals were scored.
- A draw would suit both clubs, which could result in a cautious approach.
Prediction
Expect a cautious start and a frenetic finish: Benfica will likely avoid taking unnecessary risks, while Bayern will be eager to secure top spot in the group. With neither defense flawless, goals should be on the menu. My pick: Bayern double chance and over 1.5 goals at odds of 1.48.
