Bayern Munich are through to the last four of the UEFA Champions League for the fifth season running after coming through a tough examination in Lisbon.
Raúl Jiménez’s goal before the half-hour mark briefly brought this quarter-final level but once Arturo Vidal had driven in a killer away goal there was only one likely winner. Thomas Müller made it 2-1 soon after the restart and though Talisca’s fine free-kick gained Benfica parity on the night, the Bavarians were home and dry.
With Jonas suspended and Nicolás Gaitán and Kostas Mitroglou failing late fitness tests, the hosts were deprived of their chief attacking threats yet it did not prevent them taking a surprise lead. Having spent much of the first 27 minutes imprisoned inside their own half, Benfica made a break for it.
It culminated in Eliseu lofting an exquisite ball into the box. Manuel Neuer came for it but was deceived by the flight and Jiménez stole in to nod into the empty net. Briefly, the shock was on. How different it could have been had Jiménez displayed the same poise that he had moments before when Eduardo Salvio’s cross found him in space? Instead he snatched at it.
Bayern did not need a second warning. Seven minutes before the interval Vidal drove into the empty net after home goalkeeper Ederson’s clearance landed at his feet and suddenly Benfica’s optimism vanished – they now needed to score twice. Pep Guardiola’s side were leaving nothing to chance, though, and they continued to press.
Müller then made it 2-1 from close range, with only the post denying Douglas Costa a third. Talisca’s free-kick meant Benfica bowed out on a positive note but Bayern marched on.
