Champions League: Bayern's X-Ray

Bayern and Benfica lock horns at 8 pm on Tuesday at the Allianz Arena, for matchday 5 of the Champions League Group E. From the opening round to this match much has changed in the Eagles' opponent.

Between the two matches against Benfica, Bayern carried out 13 matches in all official competitions, amassing six wins, four draws, and three losses. The team scored 21 goals and conceded 16. The inconstancy in the performances puts the team in 5th place in the Bundesliga, with 21 points, nine points behind the leader Borussia Dortmund.

After the match against the Eagles, on September 19, at Estádio da Luz, the Bavarians made three matches for the Championship, with three different results. First, they beat Schalke 04, in Gelsenkirchen, by 0-2, with goals from James Rodríguez and Lewandowski. Next came a home draw against Augsburg (1-1), with a strike from Robben, and a loss away from home against Hertha, by 2-0.

Back in the Champions League, the results did not improve. At the Allianz Arena, Ajax got a 1-all draw– Hummels scored for the home team. In the following match, once again in Munich, a 0-3 loss against Borussia Mönchengaldbach.

The triumphs returned in the following round, against Wolfsburg: 1-3 away from home, with goals from Lewandowski (2) and James Rodríguez. Next came three wins: AEK for the Champions League, Mainz for the Bundesliga and Rödinghausen for the German Cup.

The negative phase seemed to be overcome until Freiburg achieved a 1-all draw at Allianz Arena. Gnabry scored for Bayern. In the Champions, another win over AEK by 2-0, with goals from Lewandowski, and the top spot from Group E with 10 points, but in the return to the Bundesliga, a loss against the leader Borussia Dortmund (3-2).

Before welcoming Benfica, the team from Munich locked horns with Fortuna Düsseldorf at the Allianz Arena and drew 3-3 after having a 3-1 lead.

For the match against the reds, the coach, Niko Kovac has four players unavailable due to injury: Thiago Alcantara, James Rodríguez, Tolisso, and Coman.

The stats from Bayern

In statistical terms, in the Bundesliga alone, Bayern tops the table in the number of passes, crosses and ball possession; the team holds the 2^nd place in the shots made.

The Bavarian already carried out more than 7000 passes in the championship, they have an average of more than 600 for every 90 minutes. They have racked up more than 250 crosses (more than 20 per match). On average they register more than 60% ball possession per match.

In terms of shots, only Hoffenheim has more than Bayern. The team from Munich already made more than 180 shots (an average of more than 15 per match).

Expanding the range to all official competitions, in an individual analysis, Bayern’s top scorer is the Pole Lewandowski, with 15 goals; Neuer is the most used player, with 1710 minutes, with the goalkeeper and Kimmich being the players who have more matches played: 19; with regard to assists, Kimmich is in the top spot with four.

Text: Marco Rebelo

Pics: Facebook of FC Bayern