Two teams who have won the European Cup in the past will face each other in a crucial league match at the Allianz Arena, where Bayern Munich and Benfica will both aim to kick-start their Champions League campaign on Wednesday.
The team from the Bundesliga made history by scoring nine goals in a Champions League match, beating Dinamo Zagreb 9-2 in their first game of the tournament. However, Vincent Kompany's team has suffered defeats against Aston Villa and Barcelona since then.
Bayern will be happy to play at their home ground against Benfica, who suffered their first defeat in Europe against Feyenoord last month after winning their first two games against Crvena Zvezda and Atletico Madrid. Benfica is still in contention for a top-eight finish in the league phase.
In terms of injuries, Bayern will be missing Sacha Boey, Josip Stanisic, Aleksandar Pavlovic, and Hiroki Ito due to various injuries. Kompany is unlikely to make many changes from their 3-0 victory against Union Berlin, but Thomas Muller and Serge Gnabry could be options for the attacking line-up.
Benfica is waiting for Gianluca Prestianni, Leandro Barreiro, and Tiago Gouveia to recover from their respective injuries. Alexander Bah is expected to be fit for the game after suffering a thigh strain in their weekend win over Farense.
Match Statistics
Although Bayern has lost their last two Champions League matches, they have remained undefeated in 11 domestic games this season, winning nine and drawing two.
Harry Kane has been in top form for Bayern, scoring 17 goals in 14 appearances, including three hat-tricks.
Benfica has been impressive at home, winning 11 of their last 12 matches and scoring 39 goals while only conceding seven.
Benfica has also won their last four away games, including a 2-1 victory at Crvena Zvezda.
However, Benfica has never defeated Bayern in their previous 12 encounters, with Bayern winning nine times and three matches ending in a draw.
Bayern has dominated their recent games against Portuguese clubs, particularly Benfica, scoring 16 goals in their last six meetings.
Match Prediction
Bayern demonstrated their ability to break down strong defenses in their 3-0 victory over Union Berlin at the weekend.
Benfica, known for their hard work and creativity, may pose a challenge for Bayern, but it's unlikely they will be able to withstand the Bavarians for long.
After two consecutive defeats in Europe, Bayern will be eager to secure a convincing victory similar to their weekend performance. The Bundesliga leaders have shown their attacking prowess by scoring three or more goals in five of their last six games.
Given Benfica's recent defensive vulnerabilities in the Champions League, Bayern is expected to score multiple goals and secure a victory in this encounter.