Reds down Benfica and advance to last sixteen

FC Bayern beat Benfica 5-2 on Tuesday night, booking a berth in the Champions League last sixteen. Robert Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry handed Munich a two-goal lead, Morato pulling one back before half-time. Leroy Sané and Lewandowski found the net after the interval, Darwín Nuñez netting for the Portuguese side, but Lewandowski made sure the scoreline reflected the balance of play when he rounded off his hat-trick, crowning his 100th Champions League match in style.

The Bavarians lined up with Manuel Neuer in goal and Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano, Tanguy Nianzou and Alphonso Davies in a back four. Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka anchored a midfield featuring Gnabry, Sané and Kingsley Coman, with Lewandowski up front. Omar Richards, Jamal Musiala, Marcel Sabitzer, Thomas Müller and Bouna Sarr took over from Davies, Coman, Kimmich, Sané and Gnabry in the second half.

Entertaining first half

The 50,000 crowd at the Allianz Arena saw a clash that was evenly-balanced in the first 20 minutes. Benfica's Pizzi saw two efforts blocked by Davies before Grimaldo curled a free-kick wide. Keeper Vlachodimos denied Gnabry and Lewandowski, Goretzka shooting wide. The visitors soon had the ball in the net, but Verissimo's goal was ruled out for offside.

A cross by Coman, who turned in an outstanding display, only just evaded Sané before Vlachodimos made a fine save against Davies, but Bayern took the lead when Coman sidestepped a number of opponents, his cross inviting Lewandowski to head home. Munich soon twisted the knife, Kimmich's through ball finding Lewandowski, who flicked it behind him for Gnabry to back-heel home. Gnabry drew a save from Vlachodimos, but Benfica pulled one back against the run of play when Morato rose high to head in a free-kick. Pavard fired over before Bayern were awarded a penalty for handball, but Vlachodimos denied Lewandowski from the spot.

Utter dominance

Julian Nagelsmann's men went looking to close out the meeting after the restart, and Sané soon restored the two-goal advantage when he volleyed into the far corner of the net. Sané fired wide and Lewandowski saw an effort saved, but the world's best player scored minutes later, his dink over Vlachodimos finding the net.

Sané saw an effort saved, but Benfica scored another one when Bayern lost possession in midfield, João Mário inviting Nuñez to beat Neuer. Müller and Gnabry saw their efforts blocked and Lewandowski fired over the bar, but Bayern rounded off the final scoreline when a long ball by Neuer found Lewandowski, who lifted over Vlachodimos.

Bayern will be back in action on Saturday, when they entertain high-flyers Freiburg in the Bundesliga.

Live match report for fcbayern.comby Greg Salmen