Benfica 2-2 B Munich (Agg 2-3): Pep Guardiola's side reach fifth straight Champions League semi-final By Oliver Yew
Last Updated: 13/04/16 10:39pm
Bayern Munich reached their fifth straight Champions League semi-final with a 3-2 aggregate win despite a 2-2 draw with Benfica at the Estadio da Luz. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Benfica were back in the tie when Raul Jimenez headed home in the 27th minute, but Rui Vitoria's side's joy was short lived as Arturo Vidal added to his strike from the first leg to give Bayern, who left Robert Lewandowski on the bench, a crucial away goal in the 38th minute. Seven minutes after the break Thomas Muller extended his side's aggregate lead to leave Benfica a mountain to climb but they were handed a lifeline when substitute Anderson Talisca curled a free-kick into the top corner with 13 minutes remaining. Benfica needed to score two goals without reply but it proved beyond them as Pep Guardiola's side, who remain on course for the treble, held on to book their place in Friday's semi-final draw, alongside Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Manchester City.
Benfica, who were without star duo Nicolas Gaitan and Jonas Oliveira, had an early sight of goal after Joshua Kimmich fouled Jimenez, but Eliseu could only hit the wall with his free-kick from 25 yards.
But from that moment Bayern, who were without the injured pair Arjen Robben and Jerome Boeteng, took control and Muller flashed a volley inches wide after excellent work from Philipp Lahm down the right.
Benfica, who were also missing on-loan Fulham striker Konstantinos Mitroglou, hardly had a kick but they found themselves in front in the 27th minute when Eliseu's inch-perfect diagonal cross was met by the head of Jimenez, who powered the ball past Manuel Neuer and into the bottom corner.
Minutes later it could have got even better for the hosts and Jimenez when Salvio's cross picked out the striker on the penalty spot, but his weak shot was easily saved by Neuer.
However, Bayern were back on level terms and it was Vidal who grabbed the crucial away goal. The Chilean midfielder produced a stunning finish, meeting a bouncing ball just outside the penalty area before firing a shot right into the top corner.
Vidal's late runs into the box were causing the hosts problems all night and just before the break he was in again but this time he could not hit the target with a rising effort.
Muller dashed Benfica's hopes of an upset in the 52nd minute, tapping in from close range after Javi Martinez headed Xabi Alonso's left-sided corner across goal as the hosts looked to play for offside.
Douglas Costa squandered a fine chance to put the outcome beyond doubt after his poor touch allowed goalkeeper Ederson to make a crucial intervention, before the Brazilian struck the post with a low shot on the hour.
Martinez was lucky to be shown just a yellow card when he brought down substitute Goncalo Guedes on the edge of the area, but the Bundesliga leaders were punished as Talisca curled the resulting free-kick into the near top-left corner.
Vitoria, having been sent to the stands, was mobbed by home fans as Benfica, who needed two goals without reply, sensed an unlikely comeback.
With six minutes to go Talisca went close from a similar position, but this time his free-kick went past the right post, while Neuer was equal to a late effort from another substitute in Luka Jovic.
However, Bayern held on and the result kept alive the possibility of seeing Bayern boss Guardiola face City, the club he will manage from the summer, in the last four.
http://www.skysports.com/football/benfica-vs-bay-munich/354729
