Bayern Munich vs Benfica: TV channel, live stream, team news & prediction

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Bayern Munich get back to Champions League matters on Tuesday night when they host Benfica on matchday four of Group E.

Julian Nagelsmann’s men come into the tie in mostly blistering form. In their last five fixtures Die Roten have won four with an aggregate score line of 18-3 – including a 4-0 thumping of Benfica in their last European outing.

There was, however, a severe anomaly in the DFB-Pokal prior to their last victory, in which a full strength team got thrashed 5-0 by Borussia Monchengladbach – their heaviest defeat in 43 years.
In typical Bayern style, though, Nagelsmann’s players dusted themselves down, went out a few days later and thumped Union Berlin 5-2 in the Bundesliga.

On Tuesday, they’ll face a Benfica side who have started the campaign strongly. Jorge Jesus‘ side sit third in the Primeira Liga, just one point off Porto at the summit, and second in their Champions League group. They’ll do well to lessen and avoid enlarging the five-point gap that currently exists between them and Bayern at the top of Group E.

Here’s 90min’s preview of the game.

FC Bayern München v TSG Hoffenheim - BundesligaFC Bayern München v TSG Hoffenheim - Bundesliga

The Allianz Arena will host yet another Champions League night / Adam Pretty/GettyImages

What time is kick off? Tuesday 2 November, 20:00 (BST)
Where is it being played? Allianz Arena, Munich
TV channel? BT Sport ESPN (UK), fuboTV (US)
Highlights? BT Sport YouTube channel
Referee? Szymon Marciniak
VAR? Tomasz Kwiatkowski

Leon Goretzka missed his side’s 5-2 win over Union Berlin with a bruised heel and remains a doubt to feature on Tuesday. His potential absence leaves the door open to both Marcel Sabitzer and Corentin Tolisso.

Lucas Hernandez is also a concern for Nagelsmann, having picked up a knock to the knee. Dayot Upamecano will likely come back into the starting XI in place of his compatriot.

Jesus has some concerns at full-back and wing-back, with Andre Almeida still sidelined after coming off injured in his side’s last meeting with Bayern. Gil Dias and Valentino Lazaro are also out of contention.

Forwards Haris Seferovic and Rodrigo Pinho are also still absent, although Jesus will be able to call upon the likes of Roman Yaremchuk, Darwin Nunez and Rafa Silva in the final third.

Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Pavard, Sule, Upamecano, Davies; Kimmich, Sabitzer; Sane, Muller, Coman; Lewandowski

Benfica (3-4-3): Vlachodimos; Verissimo, Otamendi, Vertonghen; Goncalves, Weigl, Mario, Grimaldo; Silva, Yaremchuk, Nunez

It’s not often you get to line up against Bayern with the German champions having lost 5-0 very recently. Die Roten’s thumping of Union last time out, however, just goes to show that they don’t exactly dwell on their mistakes.

Nagelsmann’s men will once more head into a game as heavy favourites and, while Benfica boast some brilliant creative and clinical quality, Bayern’s well-oiled machine should be enough to overwhelm their opposition – as they seem to do nearly every time they step onto the grass.

Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski – who, between them, grabbed six goal involvements last time out – never seem to tire and will undoubtedly be raring to go once more, while Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sane will be optimistic of finding joy against the likes of Nicolas Otamendi and Jan Vertonghen at the back – for obvious reasons.

With the sheer firepower and inexhaustible athleticism of this Bayern side, Benfica’s main hope will be to keep it respectable as their opposition aim to secure a place in the last 16.

Prediction: Bayern Munich 4-0 Benfica