Early Arturo Vidal strike sees Bayern sink Benfica

Arturo Vidal scored the only goal of the game as Bayern Munich beat Benfica 1-0 in the Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Allianz Arena.

Pep Guardiola's side, who had netted 40 goals in their last 10 games at the Allianz Arena before tonight, seemed on course for another goalfest when Chilean international Vidal opened the scoring in the second minute with a sharp header from Juan Bernat's cross from the left.

But Bayern, looking to make the Champions League semi-finals for a third time in a row under Guardiola, were far from their fluent best against the Portuguese champions, with Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski in particular enduring an off night up front.

The Pole, who has scored 13 times in 15 club appearances in 2016, was guilty of an awful miss in the closing stages when he opted to pass to Phillip Lahm when set free one-on-one with Benfica goalkeeper Ederson from Vidal's slide-rule pass.

Benfica, who were unlucky not to net an away goal when Jonas saw a goalbound effort blocked by Javi Martinez, nevertheless will fancy their chances when the teams meet in the second leg at the Estadio da Luz next Wednesday.

Why did Benfica not press Bayern Munich? Benfica manager Rui Vitoria selected a 4-4-2 at the Allianz Arena, in an attempt to nick an away goal in Germany ahead of the second leg in Lisbon in eight days' time. But, against a side so comfortable in possession as Bayern Munich, that formation needs a pressing game. Kontantinos Mitroglu and 32-goal Jonas just didn't look interested in hurrying up Bayern defenders Joshua Kimmich and David Alaba, allowing the German champions to build up from the back at will. The Portuguese champions were perhaps a shade lucky that Bayern did not take advantage of the space on offer to them in Munich.

Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich) The Chilean opened the scoring in the second minute after ghosting into the Benfica area, and Benfica struggled to deal with the Copa America winner's movement and runs from deep all night. Vidal has only scored four times for Bayern this season, his first at the club since his summer move from Juventus, but he netted nine goals in the Champions League alone in his four seasons in Turin. If he continues to contribute goals, Bayern Munich could maybe go further than the semi-final stage this season, and reach the Champions League final for the first time under Guardiola in the Spaniard's final season in charge at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern Munich: Neuer 7, Lahm 7, Kimmich 7, Bernat 7, Alaba 7, Vidal 9, Thiago Alcantara 8, Douglas Costa 7, Ribery 8, Muller 7, Lewandowski 7. Subs. Martinez 7, Gotze 6, Coman 6.

Benfica: Ederson 8, Andre Almeida 7, Lindelof 6, Jardel 7, Eliseu 7, Fejsa 6, Renato Sanches 7, Pizzi 6, Gaitan 6, Jonas 6, Mitroglou 6. Subs: Jimenez 7, Salvio 6, Samaris 6

2' – GOAL! Bayern Munich 1-0 Benfica. Vidal heads home from Juan Bernat's floated cross from the left after good work by Ribery in the build-up. That's Vidal's fourth goal for Bayern Munich in his first season at the club, his first for Bayern in the Champions League after nine goals in the competition for Juventus.

15'- SAVE! Ederson is brave at his near post to deny Lewandowski from a low Lahm cross from the right.

20'- SAVE! Ederson denies Muller with his face after the German World Cup winner shoots on target from Thiago's scooped cross.

28' - PENALTY SHOUT! Sanches finds Gaitan down the left, and Benfica protest that Lahm handles his cut back. Probably no penalty, as he is very close to the cross.

31'- SAVE! Ederson saves from Muller following a brilliant dinked free-kick from Thiago. That was straight off the training ground, but the Benfica keeper was so aware.

56'- SAVE! Jonas turns his defender Alaba and shoots from Sanches' flick but Neuer is down to save.

63' – CHANCE! Jonas shoots over at the second attempt after Martinez saves the initial shot with his chest following Almeida's cross down the right.

88' - WHAT A MISS! Vidal sets up Lewandowski, and the Pole opts to pass to Lahm rather than shoots and overhits it!

Bayern Munich and Porto have been drawn together on three previous occasions in European competition, with the Germans winning on each occasion and them going on to reach the final of the competition. (European Cup 1975/76 and 1981/82, and Uefa Cup 1995/96).

Bayern Munich are unbeaten in Champions League this season, winning eight and drawing the other of their nine games so far, scoring 28 goals in the process.

Pep Guardiola was a winner on his 150th competitive game in charge of the Germans. Bayern have won 114 of those matches, losing and drawing exactly 18 times each.