Bayern Munich Triumphs 1-0 Over Benfica with Musiala’s Second-Half Header

Bayern Munich secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Benfica on Wednesday in the Champions League, thanks to a second-half header from Jamal Musiala.

After suffering two consecutive defeats in Europe, Bayern had fallen outside the knockout spots but found their form at home, where Musiala broke through Benfica's solid defense with a 67th-minute goal. Harry Kane provided the assist.

While Bayern controlled possession, they struggled to break down Benfica, failing to create clear chances despite their dominance. The game played out before a silent crowd in the Allianz Arena, with supporters choosing not to sing in respect for a hospitalized fan.

Despite the win, Bayern faces a challenging path ahead in the competition. With the Champions League final to be held on their home soil, Bayern's current position remains precarious as they sit in 17th place, one point behind Dinamo Zagreb, whom they defeated 9-2 in their opening match. They will next face Paris Saint-Germain.

Musiala reflected on the match: “We had good moments. The opponent defended well. It was very important to get three points today. We don't have to win every game by four or five goals. Sometimes 1-0 is enough. We had to be patient. Now we carry on and look to the next game.”

Bayern Munich, unbeaten at the top of the Bundesliga under new manager Vincent Kompany, has had a mixed Champions League campaign this season. After a solid 9-2 win over Zagreb, the team suffered a 1-0 loss at Aston Villa and a heavy 4-1 defeat to Barcelona, leaving them with work to do to secure qualification for the knockout stages.

The match against Benfica was delayed by 15 minutes due to public transport issues, and the home fans remained silent throughout the game because of the medical emergency in the stands. Despite these distractions, Bayern was unable to break down Benfica in the first half, with the best chance falling to Serge Gnabry, whose half-volley was saved by Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin.

As the match progressed, Bayern showed growing frustration, but substitute Leroy Sané added pace to the attack. Sané's involvement proved pivotal, as he set up Kane, whose assist found Musiala for the game's only goal.

Bayern will next face St Pauli in Hamburg on Saturday, just before the international break.