Benfica and Bayern Munich will both be aiming to maintain their unbeaten starts to the 2021-22 Champions League when they do battle at the Estadio da Luz on Wednesday in Group E.
The hosts sit second in the group having taken four points from their opening two games, while Julian Nagelsmann's side are sitting pretty at the summit.
Match preview
Benfica had to do it the hard way in the qualifying rounds to book their place in the Champions League group stage, but the Portuguese giants proved that they firmly belong with the continental elite as they humbled Barcelona 3-0 on matchday two.
Darwin Nunez took all of three minutes to draw first blood against La Blaugrana before Rafa Silva doubled his side's advantage in the 69th minute, and Nunez would make sure of the result from the penalty spot for his second and Benfica's third in a remarkable success.
Such a romping was the perfect way for Benfica to respond to their opening goalless draw with Dynamo Kiev, and Jorge Jesus's second-string side saw off Trofense 2-1 after extra time in the Taca de Portugal on Saturday thanks to goals from Everton and Andre Almeida.
A 1-0 defeat to Portimonense in league action before the international break ended a six-game winning run at home for Benfica, but the hosts have come up trumps in their last five Champions League fixtures at the Estadio da Luz - including qualifiers - scoring at least two goals each time.
With Barcelona sure to start picking up points in Europe as colder temperatures set in, second-placed Benfica find themselves under immense pressure to hold their standing in the knockout round berths, but they now prepare for one of the toughest assignments that the game has to offer.
While Benfica were marching to a romping victory of their own last time out, Bayern also produced a goal-laden performance on matchday two, as Nagelsmann oversaw a comprehensive 5-0 success over Dynamo Kiev on home soil.
Robert Lewandowski struck twice while Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting also found the back of the net to cement Bayern's place at the top of the rankings, and Nagelsmann's men produced another five-star performance in league action at the weekend.
Lewandowski (2) and Gnabry (2) got their names on the scoresheet again while Thomas Muller netted his side's third in an eye-catching 5-1 thrashing of Bayer Leverkusen, with all of the Bavarians' goals coming in the first half before Patrik Schick netted a consolation for a desolate Leverkusen in the second period.
Now boasting 10 wins from 12 in all competitions since the season kicked off, Bayern can all but confirm their place in the knockout rounds with all three points this week, and their goal difference of +8 is already the best out of all 32 teams in the group stage.
The Bavarians have also gone unbeaten in their last 19 Champions League away games and have won six of their last seven meetings with Benfica, most recently easing to a 5-1 victory in the 2018-19 group stage at home after a 2-0 win in Lisbon.
- W
- W
- W
- D
- D
- W
- D
- W
- W
- W
- L
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- L
- W
Team News
Benfica wing-back Gil Dias had to be withdrawn before half time against Trofense, and his replacement Valentino Lazaro was also forced off with a muscular issue and is set to sit this one out.
Striker Haris Seferovic is also struggling with a muscle injury but is unlikely to displace Nunez or Roman Yaremchuk either way, with Jesus reverting to the winning formula from their memorable victory over Barcelona.
Lazaro started at right-wing back in that tie and now ought to be replaced by Gilberto, but Almeida will hope to come into contention following his goal at the weekend.
Meanwhile, Bayern have been handed an injury scare with Alphonso Davies after the Canadian left-back came off with 40 minutes on the clock against Leverkusen due to thigh pain.
Davies has now been ruled out of the contest, so Lucas Hernandez could be shifted over to the left-hand side, with the Frenchman featuring at the weekend despite now having until October 28 to voluntarily enter prison for a six-month sentence.
On the opposite site, Benjamin Pavard is set to return from suspension to take his rightful place at right-back, and Nagelsmann should spring no surprises after being able to take several big-hitters off early against Leverkusen.
However, Leon Goretzka is battling a cold and will also miss out, so Marcel Sabitzer could start alongside Joshua Kimmich in the middle.
Benfica possible starting lineup:
Vlachodimos; Verissimo, Otamendi, Vertonghen; Gilberto, Weigl, Mario, Grimaldo; Silva, Yaremchuk, Nunez
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Pavard, Sule, Upamecano, Hernandez; Kimmich, Sabitzer; Sane, Muller, Gnabry; Lewandowski
We say: Benfica 1-3 Bayern Munich
Already being tipped as early favourites to go all the way in the Champions League, Bayern Munich have been unplayable in almost every game this term but will face their toughest test yet at the Estadio da Luz.
With a red-hot Nunez leading the charge, Jesus's side have the attacking guile needed to breach the Bavarians' defence, but the visitors should exploit an ageing Benfica backline to march to another convincing win.
body check tags ::
