'Not entirely easy’:Advantage Bayern, but tie remains 'tense’

As always, the FCB stars made their way over to the south terrace faithful at the end of the match, but on Tuesday evening the players were visibly uncertain how to react. Was the 1-0 victory over Benfica cause for celebration, or rather a case of lamenting what might have been? The Reds had a few chances to put themselves into an even better position for next week’s Champions League quarter-final second leg, “but it could also have finished 1-1,” noted Manuel Neuer. Whatever, FC Bayern have definitely earned a slight advantage. “But it’ll be a tense return match,” Thomas Müller advised.

Tuesday’s clash set off at a breathless pace. Arturo Vidal, once again hitting peak form at just the right time, nodded home Juan Bernat’s precise cross to hand FCB a second-minute lead. The home side were in full flow, inspired by Thiago and Vidal’s sweeping diagonal passes to release the wide players. A second goal appeared only a matter of time. “We had it totally under control,” mused Joshua Kimmich, who started at centre-back instead of Javi Martínez.

But with 20 minutes played Bayern faded a little and Benfica fought their way into the contest. “They adapted to our positional play and the back four moved extremely well as a unit. That made it hard for us,” said Neuer. Müller agreed: “They showed they have the ability to hurt us. They’re not just a bunch who happened to have been cobbled together, they know what they’re doing. But we were the better team overall.”