The Champions League quarterfinals are here, with German giants Bayern Munich set to host Portuguese underdogs Benfica. The lineups are in for the first leg of their tie, and while Bayern have set out a very strong side, well, it's a little boring for them.
Bayern Munich vs. Benfica: Confirmed Champions League lineups
Bayern’s lineup isn’t exciting, but it’s definitely good.
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At first glance, it looks pretty much like Bayern are using a bog standard 4-2-3-1. Four defenders, two central midfielders, three attacking midfielders and a striker. While it’s a very good lineup, it lacks a certain panache of unpredictability that Bayern’s previous Champions League lineups have had. Still, their fans will be happy to see Franck Ribery back in the starting XI, so there’s that at least.
For Benfica, they’re running out a lineup that’s been fairly standard for them, including workhorse attacker Nicolas Gaitan, as well as strikers Jonas and Kostas Mitroglou, who have scored over 50 goals between the two of them in the league and Champions League combined. That’s a potent group, and Bayern will have to be on their toes to keep them at bay.
Bayern Munich starting XI (4-2-3-1): Manuel Neuer; Philipp Lahm, Joshua Kimmich, David Alaba, Juan Bernat; Arturo Vidal, Thiago Alcantara; Douglas Costa, Thomas Muller, Franck Ribery; Robert Lewandowski
Benfica starting XI (4-4-2): Ederson; Andre Almeida, Victor Lindelöf, Jardel, Eliseu; Pizzi, Ljubomir Fejsa, Renato Sanches, Nicolas Gaitan; Jonas, Kostas Mitroglou
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