On Sunday evening, things will come to a head, when FC Bayern line up opposite Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the Champions League. The venue is the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, better known as Estádio da Luz, in Lisbon. Here, fcbayern.com showcases the arena.
Bayern unbeaten in the Estádio da Luz
Renato Sanches moved from Benfica to FC Bayern in 2016. In 2018, in his homeland, he scored his first competitive goal for FCB against his former club in the Champions League.
Before the finals tournament, FC Bayern had already played in the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica twice and the memories they have of those times are positive ones. In the Champions League quarter-final second leg (1-0 in the first leg) of the 2016 season, the Reds secured a 2-2 draw with Benfica to progress to the semi-finals. Arturo Vidal and Thomas Müller were the scorers. In the 2018 group phase, FCB won 2-0, and it was a big night for Renato Sanches. After Robert Lewandowski had put the Bavarians ahead, the midfielder, who was a product of the Benfica youth set-up, scored the second goal after a strong drive. Even the home fans applauded the men from Munich.
'Cathedral' of the Portuguese record champions
The Estádio da Luz. holds 65,647 spectators. On Sunday, however, the stands will remain empty for well-documented reasons.
The Stadium of Light - as it translates literally - was built for the European Championship and has been Benfica's home since 2003. The fans of the Portuguese record champions transferred the reverential title of Cathedral, the designation for Benfica's old home directly to the new stadium. After the move, a new custom was introduced, whereby an eagle - the bird in Benfica's crest - circles the pitch before every home match. Legend has it that Benfica will win its home game if the eagle completes more than two laps. If the bird lands earlier, the visitors will win.
Venue for the final of Euro 2004
At the 2004 European Championship, Otto Rehagel led Greece to what was their only title to date. The final was played at the Estádio da Luz.
During the 2004 European Championship in Portugal, a total of five matches were played at the Estádio da Luz. Three group stage matches, one quarter-final and the final between Greece and the hosts. The way former Bayern coach Otto Rehagel led his Greeks to the title with a 1-0 victory will never be forgotten. The stadium was also the venue for the 2014 Champions League Final, in which Real Madrid beat their city rivals Atlético 4-1 (a e.t.)
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