Bayern Munich hosts Benfica for the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday, aiming to leave the second leg a mere formality in reaching the club’s fifth consecutive semifinal.
Confidence is high among Bayern’s players and fans of getting past the Portuguese league leader and moving another step closer to repeating the 2013 feat of Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup victories.
Benfica is bidding to reach the final four for the first time since 1990.
Benfica is a team that you simply have to beat. I can’t imagine that Benfica can put Bayern in danger. Bayern will pass this test with flying colors.Ottmar Hitzfeld, Former Bayern Munich Coach
The sides met three times before in European competition. Bayern prevailed on the three occasions. The German powerhouse has won all nine of its previous two-legged knockout ties against Portuguese opposition.
Bayern survived a close shave against Juventus in the previous round on Thomas Mueller’s injury-time equalizer and two more goals in extra time to progress in dramatic fashion.
The side will hope to avoid such excitement against Benfica by claiming another comprehensive quarterfinal victory over a Portuguese side at home. At the same stage last season, Bayern defeated Porto 6-1 in Munich to recover from the 3-1 loss in the first leg.
After a rocky start to the season under new coach Rui Vitoria, Benfica has found its form in the final third of the season.
The players have finally clicked and the team has surged into lead of the Portuguese championship and its first Champions League quarterfinal in four years.