Champions League: Bayern's X-Ray

Estádio da Luz hosts Bayern Munich for another European Wednesday. The match from week 1 of the Champions League Group E starts at 8 pm and, before the kick-off, the Official Site shows you everything you need to know about the German Champions.

Head to head will be two European Champions and usual title contender in their respective champions. Old acquaintances, Benfica and Bayern meet for the 9th time in official matches.

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Used to winning, the Bavarian started the season celebrating. Against Niko Kovac's former club, Bayern beat Eintracht by 5-0 and won the German Super Cup.

In the domestic competitions, they eliminated SV Drochtersen/Assel (V 0-1) in the 1st round of the German Cup and is already in the top sport of the Bundesliga with nine points, fruit of the triumphs against Hoffenheim (3-1), Stuttgart (0-3) and Bayer Leverkusen (3-1).

Bayer Leverkusen was the last opponent before the trip to Luz, with Niko Kovac using the following players: Neuer; Kimmich, Boateng, Sule e Rafinha (Alaba at 82'); Thiago Alcántara, Tolisso (James Rodríguez at 42') and Muller; Robben, Gnabry (Javi Martínez at 59') and Lewandowski.

Block across the field and strength in recovery

Bayern works as a block which moves to width and depth. With the lines close and up on the pitch, the Bavarians allow little play between lines or even in depth (Neuer behaves like a sweeper).

Being a team used to control the match, Bayern's identity goes through ball possession and a play-making attacking style. On average, Bayern has ball possession 60/65% of the match and does around 700 passes per encounter (with a accuracy above 85%), according to the platform Wyscout.

The leader of the Bundesliga does not make many fouls, but is an expert in ball recovery (an average of around 100 per match). I does not concede space to the opponent and that can be seen in the number of shot conceded: less than six per encounter.