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Bayern Munich wastes chances in 1-0 quarterfinal first-leg win over Benfica

Bayern Munich wastes chances in 1-0 quarterfinal first-leg win over Benfica

If Pep Guardiola's men are going to send him off to Manchester City with the ultimate going away present, clearly the task won't be easy. Because a Champions League title is becoming increasingly challenging with every step now for Bayern Munich.

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Needing an inspired comeback to get past Italian power Juventus in the round of 16, Bayern appeared to get a break with a favorable quarterfinal draw against Benfica. But the path to the semifinals got much more complicated on Tuesday despite a 1-0 first-leg victory at the Allianz Arena.

The Bundesliga leader now has to venture to Portugal in eight days to protect the slimmest of leads after wasting perfectly fine scoring opportunities throughout the first 90 minutes of its quarterfinal tie.

Early on, it looked like Bayern was in store for a walkover. Just two minutes into the game, the German side grabbed a 1-0 lead when Arturo Vidal got his head on the end of Juan Bernat's cross and beat goalkeeper Ederson.

But even though Bayern continued to dictate play in the first half, all it had to show for its 8-2 shots advantage and 61-percent possession was the one-goal halftime lead against a Benfica defense that Guardiola hailed as the best in Europe.

Bayern needed the best goalkeeper on the planet to keep Benfica off the scoresheet in the 57th minute. Manuel Neuer stood tall to come up big and turn away a point-blank strike by Jonas, Benfica's leading goal scorer, who then suffered further insult a minute later by picking up a yellow card and a suspension for the return leg.

The Brazilian forward threatened again in the 64th minute when he got on the end of a low cross into the box and side-footed his one-timed shot at goal. This time, substitute center back Javi Martinez blocked Jonas' shot with his body to preserve Bayern's lead.

Missed chances continued to be the story as the game approached the final whistle. Bayern Munich should have added a second goal in the 89th minute when Vidal slipped a perfectly weighted through-ball to Robert Lewandowski, but the Polish striker inexplicably opted not to shoot against a helpless Ederson. Lewandowski's errant pass to Philipp Lahm was struck too hard, his poor decision wasting a 2-on-1 opportunity against the keeper.

Guardiola said before the game that a 2-0 victory would've been ideal. But now, his Bayern Munich will have to navigate through the dangers and unforeseen obstacles of a second leg away from home. No, nothing is coming easy at all in the Champions League for Pep and Bayern.