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Remind me next time

Benfica host Bayern Munich on Wednesday night at the Estadio da Luz in the Champions League for matchday 3. The Eagles are second in Group E and sit two points behind Bayern Munich after two matchdays while the Bavarians are on top of the group with a 100% winning record. Bayern Munich thrashed Barcelona 3-0 in the Champions League before dispatching Dynamo Kyiv 5-0.

Benfica vs Bayern Munich Match Preview

Benfica have played well in the competition’s group stage after fighting their way through the qualifying stages of the Champions League. A nil-nil away draw with Dynamo Kyiv was followed by a historic 3-0 home win over Barcelona.

The Eagles’ win over Barcelona may not have been as remarkable as it appears on paper with Barcelona are at the bottom of the group going into matchday 3. However, Bayern Munich are one of the favorites to win the Champions League and Julian Nagelsmann’s team is in form and coming off of a 5-1 beatdown of Bundesliga rival Bayer Leverkusen at the weekend.

Between 2015 and 2019, Benfica and Bayern Munich met four times in the Champions League. Bayern Munich won three times and drew once during that timeframe.

Benfica vs Bayern Munich Betting Odds

Benfica have posted a strong record of 11W-3D-1L this season in all competitions and have lost just once at home this term - a shock result against Portimonense in the Primeira Liga. Benfica conceded a second half goal to lose 1-0 and Jorge Jesus' team are not in form going into Tuesday's match. Benfica are winless in back-to-back matches scoring just once and conceding twice.

Leading bookies have a Benfica win at full-time are at odds of 15/2. Benfica have not defeated Bayern Munich in European competition in the teams’ last four meetings and their best result was a draw during the group stage in 2015-16. If you fancy a repeat of this result you can find a draw at best price ods of 4/1.

Bayern Munich lost to Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 just before the October international break but they made amends for the defeat on Sunday with a victory over title challengers Bayer Leverkusen with a convincing 5-1 win and both Robert Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry scoring twice. Unsuprisingly, Bayern Munich are the favourites and can be backed at best price odds of 2/5 to claim all three points.

After two matchdays, Bayern Munich are currently third-favourites to win the Champions League at odds of 9/2 to lift the trophy. Only Man City and PSG have better odds.

Benfica vs Bayern Munich Team News

Benfica boss Jorge Jesus is likely to be without wing-back Gil Dias after he was removed from the team’s game at the weekend versus Trofense. Back-up wing-back Valentino Lazaro was then forced off the pitch due to a muscle injury and is also ruled out of the game versus Bayern Munich.

Benfica main goalscorer Haris Seferovic has a muscle injury and is unlikely to start the game meaing Darwin Nunez and Roman Yaremchuk are in line to start the game in attack for the Portuguese side.  Nunez has six goals in eight games in the domestic league and Champions League.

Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann is likely to be without sensational left-back Alphonso Davies. The Canadian came off against Bayer Leverkusen with a thigh injury in the first half.

If Davies cannot play, Lucas Hernandez will likely move over to left-back in what could play his final game for six months for Bayern Munich. The Frenchman was convicted of breaking a restraining order in Madrid following a domestic violence event with his girlfriend - now wife. He must enter prison for the next six months and must report for voluntary incarceration by October 28.

Full-back Benjamin Pavard will return from suspension to the starting XI.

Benfica vs Bayern Munich H2H

Between 2015 and 2019, Benfica and Bayern Munich met four times in the Champions League. Bayern Munich won three times and drew once during that timeframe. Two of the four games finished with over 2.5 goals scored. In addition, Bayern Munich won to nil on two occasions. Bayern Munich average 4.45 goals scored per game in all competitions.

It is highly unlikely that Benfica will keep the Bavarians out of goal on their current form. While on domestic form Benfica does pose a strong defence that concedes an average 0.47 goals per match, the quality in the Portuguese Primeira Liga compared to the Bundesliga is stark.

Benfica vs Bayern Munich Prediction

Bayern Munich to win and over 2.5 goals scored @ 5/6 - BET NOW

Bayern Munich average 4.45 goals per game in all competitions this season - on current form the Bavarians are scoring goals for fun. Nine of their 11 games in all competitions this season finished with over 2.5 goals scored and a win.

Both Champions League games ended with a win and more than 2.5 goals tallied which is why we believe Nagelsmann's side will make it 3/3 in this respect. Bayern to win and over 2.5 goals is our first betting tips for this match.

Robert Lewandowski to score two or more goals @ 11/5 - BET NOW

Robert Lewandowski is still the best striker in European football. The Polish international has bagged 15 goals in 11 games this season and averages a goal every 60 minutes in all competitions. In five games this season, he has scored two or more goals in all competitions.

In both Champions League games thus far, he has bagged two goals in each game against Barcelona and Dynamo Kyiv and we expect Lewandowski to continue his hot streak against Benfica. 

Bayern Munich to win both halves @ 9/4 - BET NOW

Six of Bayern Munich’s 11 games this season finished with the Bavarians winning both halves - Die Roten are on a roll and flexing their muscles under Nagelsmann. Against Benfica, Bayern Munich should win both halves and claim a third victory in the Champions League this season.

Benfica are in the running for second place in Group E. They will play Bayern Munich two consecutive times before meeting Dynamo Kyiv and Barcelona. Benfica’s hopes of progressing will likely come down to those games against Dynamo and Barcelona to finish up the group stage as it is unlikely that the Portuguese side will claim an upset against one of European football's more clinical sides.

Benfica vs Bayern Munich Betting Tips