Bayern Munich vs Benfica: Match Preview & Prediction.

• Bayern Munich welcome Benfica to Bavaria in the Champions League on Wednesday night
• Bayern looking to bounce back from consecutive league phase defeats
• Benfica have lost just once under Bruno Lage

Bayern Munich are in need of three points when they take on Benfica in their fourth game of the Champions League’s league phase on Wednesday night.

The Vincent Kompany era has so far boasted domestic promise, but the Belgian’s side suffered a chastening defeat last time out in this competition as they were blown away by a coming-of-age Barcelona performance in Catalonia.

Bayern’s 4-1 defeat followed up a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa in the West Midlands, leaving Kompany’s side languishing at the wrong end of the league phase table and with plenty of work to do if they’re to climb into a top eight position. Time is on their side, however.

The Bavarian giants are facing a Benfica side that have lost just once under Bruno Lage’s tutelage, but that defeat did arrive on Matchday 3 of the league phase. Benfica were woeful in a 3-1 home defeat to Feyenoord, yet they do sit 13th in the table and in a relatively strong position having won their opening two games.

Unlike Bayern, they don’t lead their domestic division heading into this fixture, but Lage’s side have won five straight in the Primeira Liga and are hunting down an excellent Sporting CP team at the summit.

Bayern Munich team news

Sacha Boey is closing in on a return to action /GettyImages

Impressive young midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic remains out after breaking his collarbone last month. He’s expected to return at some point before the winter break. In his absence, Joao Palhinha could partner Joshua Kimmich in the middle of the park.

Sacha Boey is closing in on a return from a knee injury and could be included in Wednesday’s matchday squad having returned to training. Raphael Guerreiro is likely to start at right-back, though.

Summer arrival Hiroki Ito and Josip Stanisic are out of action until after the international break.

Benfica team news

Bruno Lage has lost just once as Benfica manager /GettyImages

There are no fresh concerns on the injury front for the away side, who escaped their 2-1 win over Farense at the weekend without any new fitness issues.

Lage, however, will not be able to call upon the injured trio of Gianluca Prestianni, Leandro Barreiro or Tiago Gouveia in Bavaria.

Angel Di Maria is the household name in Benfica’s frontline, but Turkish international Kerem Akturkoglu has been the Portuguese side’s main man this season. The summer addition has eight goal contributions in the Primeira Liga and another three in this competition.

Bayern Munich vs Benfica prediction

Bayern can hold their hands up and say they were simply beaten by an excellent Barcelona side on Matchday 3. They had control of large swathes of that game, but their vulnerabilities to the transition were ruthlessly exposed.

Benfica ran riot on the counter against Atletico Madrid on Matchday 2 and should have some joy here, but winning at the Allianz is an almighty task for any visiting team.

Bayern haven’t lost a home group stage/league phase Champions League game since 2013, and their desperation for three points should see them triumph in a goal-fest on Wednesday night.

Prediction: Bayern Munich 4-2 Benfica

Credit:90Mins