Patient Reds down Benfica

FC Bayern beat Benfica 4-0 on Wednesday night, taking a giant stride towards the Champions League knockout stages. Munich were dominant throughout but had to wait for 70 minutes until Leroy Sané opened the scoring. Three more goals followed in the closing stages, Éverton putting through his own goal before Robert Lewandowski found the net and Sané rounded off his brace.

The Bavarians lined up with Manuel Neuer in goal and Benjamin Pavard, Niklas Süle, Dayot Upamecano and Lucas Hernández in a back four. Marcel Sabitzer and Joshua Kimmich anchored a midfield featuring Kingsley Coman, Sané and Thomas Müller, with Lewandowski as the target man. Serge Gnabry, Josip Stanišić, Omar Richards, Corentin Tolisso and Jamal Musiala took over from Pavard, Müller, Hernández, Sabitzer and Coman in the second half.

No goals

Once match official Ovidiu Haţegan had set events in motion, Bayern hit the ground running, Lewandowski drawing a fine save from keeper Odysseas Vlachodimos before Sané fired wide. Vlachodimos denied Pavard and Lewandowski before Benfica had their first chance, but Yaremchuk could not quite connect with a cross. Bayern continued to dominate, but Sané miscued a free-kick and Coman saw an effort saved.

Neuer made a strong save against Núñez before Coman miscued a header, Sané firing inches wide. Bayern had the ball in the net when Lewandowski put a Coman cross over the line, but the goal was ruled out for handball, and the contest was goalless at half-time.

Late flourish

Proceedings were similar after the restart. Vlachodimos directed a Pavard effort onto the post before Müller hit the woodwork. Coman shone when he charged down the left and sidestepped an opponent before setting up Sané, who saw his shot parried, with Müller on hand to mop up, but the linesman's flag was up for offside.

Neuer made another strong save when he denied Gonçalves, Verissimo heading wide. Lewandowski headed over and Yaremchuk put a shot wide at the other end, but Munich finally scored when Sané's sumptuous free-kick from 25 yards left Vlachodimos without a chance.

The goal opened the floodgates, with Bayern more inspired in attack now. Coman fired over, but Benfica's Éverton soon put a Gnabry cutback through his own goal. Lewandowski banished any lingering doubts when he made it three, tapping home from point-blank range. The final flourish came when Stanišić' cutback invited Sané to blast home from 12 yards and crown his fine performance.

The victory means Bayern have nine points from three matches, five clear of Wednesday's opponents. The German record champions will be back in action on Saturday, when they entertain Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga. Bayern and Benfica meet again on 2 November.

Live match report for fcbayern.comby Greg Salmen