First half marked by the draw in Monaco. Benfica responded to Bayern’s theoretical favoritism with remarkable organisation, and as well as the defensive process, the Eagles also made their mark in attack, with some dangerous approaches on the German goal.
Bayern’s biggest scoring opportunity was theirs, when Sydney Lohmann fired a shot at Rute Costa’s right post in the 22nd minute, but Filipa Patão’s side showed arguments to contend with their opponents. Kika Nazareth, Jéssica Silva and Cloé Lacasse, all with the irreverence that characterizes them, gave no respite to the last German stronghold and, therefore, it is foreseeable that in the second half Benfica, if they do their best with the last pass, could even reach the goal.
Even if the final result is no longer included in the qualification accounts, since the red badge is already mathematically removed from that possibility, the truth is that the girls of Luz are, for now, leaving a very good image in the farewell. Just as, incidentally, they had already done in other games in this group stage.
All open for the second part…
Break! Bayern Munich 0 Benfica 0.
45’+3′: Klara Buhl shoots from the left to the center and, as she enters the area, tries her luck, but the shot ends up narrowly on the left post of the goal defended by Rute Costa.
Six minutes of minimum recovery in this first half.
42 minutes: Emelyne Laurent is booked.
32′: Benfica’s new approach to the German area, this time Pauleta kicks in front, the ball goes over the crossbar of Maria Grohs’ goal.
23′: Match stopped again, this time to provide medical assistance to Rute Costa.
22′: Great opportunity for Bayern Munich! Sydney Lohmann, inside the area and slightly down the left wing, fired a bomb that hit the right post of Rute Costa’s goal with a bang.
16′: Jéssica Silva, already inside the box, kicked a cross into Maria Grohs’ goal, but the Portuguese international had fouled Saki Kumagai and, therefore, play had already been stopped when the ball entered the german door.
11 minutes: In reply, and after a quick transition, Sydney Lohmann also had a shot from mid-range, but Rute Costa came onto the field and got it safely.
10′: Benfica’s first arrival in Bayern Munich’s goal, with Kika Nazareth, on the edge of the box, shooting hard, with his right foot, to the careful defense of Maria Grohs, who concedes a corner.
8′: Pauleta has already returned and seems to have fully recovered.
8′: cross by Maximiliane Rall, already inside the area, but the ball ends up wide of the red goal.
5 minutes: The match is stopped to give Pauleta medical attention. The Benfica captain is complaining of a lot of nose pain and will even be forced to leave the pitch.
1′: Klara Buhl, just after 17 seconds, gives the first signal of danger, with the shot of the German number 17 which ends just on the left post of Rute Costa’s goal.
Start of the game!
Bayern Monaco: Maria Grohs; Maximiliane Rall, Tainara, Saki Kumagai and Carolin Simon; Klara Buhl, Sydney Lohmann and Sarah Zadrazil c; Georgia Stanway, Lea Schuller and Emelyne Laurent
MEPs: Janina Leitzig, Cecília Runarsdóttir, Glódis Viggósdóttir, Emilie Bragstad, Franziska Kett, Karólina Vilhjálmsdóttir, Julia Landenberger, Laura Gloning, Ivana Rudelic and Jana Kappes
Trainer: Alexander Straus
Benfica: Ruth Costa; Valéria Cantuário, Carole Costa, Ana Seiça and Catarina Amado; Andrea Norton, Pauletta c and Ana Victoria; Kika Nazareth, Jessica Silva and Cloé Lacasse
MEPs: Katelin Talbert, Carolina Vilão, Sílvia Rebelo, Marta Cintra, Nycole Raysla, Maria Negrão, Lúcia Alves, Carolina Correia, Christy Ucheibe, Beatriz Nogueira and Daniela Silva
Trainer: Filipino patão
Referee: Maria Caputi (Italy)
Assistants: Francesca Di Monte and Tiziana Trasciatti (Italy)
4th Referee: Silvia Gasperotti (Italy)
Now there are official teams!
Whatever happens on this last day – the duel between Barcelona and Rosengard will also be played at the same time – Benfica already know that they will finish the group stage in 3rd place, given that the 6 points already added are no longer achievable by Rosengard , as the Swedish team, who are in last place, still don’t score. As for Bayern Munich, already qualified for the next stage, they are still fighting for the leadership of the group, which they share, at the moment, with Barcelona, both with 12 points. The advantage in the direct clash, on the other hand, belongs to the Catalan coat of arms (3-0 victory in Spain and 1-3 defeat in Germany), which means that, to win the group, the Germans will have to win and wait for a slip from the Spaniard …
The reds arrive in this final round with no mathematical possibility of qualifying for the next stage, that’s a fact, but it’s also true that Filipa Patão’s men will want, with all certainty, to write a successful page at the time of farewell to this Champions League edition. Benfica were the first Portuguese team to reach the group stage of UEFA’s top club competition, a feat they achieved last season and repeated this season.
This evening (8 pm) Benfica faces Bayern Munich, at the Bayern Campus, in Munich (Germany), in a match of the 6th and final round of Group D of the Champions League. BOLA online will follow this duel step by step and, as usual, the invitation is extended, dear reader. Come there with us. He is called up and is part of our starting line-up …
Good night!
