Bayern Munich defeat Benfica 3-0 in Lisbon with late goals from Bühl, Harder and Kett

Late goals secure Bayern Munich victory in Lisbon

FC Bayern Munich recorded their first victory of the Women's Champions League league phase with a 3-0 win against Benfica at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon on 30 September 2026. The German double winners had opened their European campaign with a 2-2 draw against Manchester City one week earlier and found it difficult to break down the Portuguese champions during a scoreless opening hour. German international winger Klara Bühl ended the deadlock in the 74th minute, firing an effort from 17 metres that struck the inside of the post before crossing the goal line. Danish striker Pernille Harder added a second goal in the 80th minute before German substitute Franziska Kett finished a third goal in the 88th minute. The three-goal surge in the final sixteen minutes secured all three points for the visiting side on matchday two.

Balanced first half and goalkeeping interventions

Benfica entered the fixture with confidence after securing a 2-1 away win against Juventus in Turin on the opening matchday. Coach Ivan Baptista organized a compact Benfica side that included defenders Catarina Amado, Diana Gomes, Tinkara Testen, and Marit Lund. Bayern held superior possession in the Benfica half during the opening twenty minutes, though Benfica lost possession in defensive areas in the 16th minute without conceding a goal. The hosts mounted dangerous transition attacks as the half progressed. In the 33rd minute, Norwegian striker Frøya Dorsin gathered a rebound, shifted to her right foot, and forced Bayern goalkeeper Ena Mahmutovic into a diving save. Two minutes later, Harder met a cross inside the six-yard box, but her header drifted narrowly over the crossbar.

Second-half pressure and Bühl's decisive strike

Benfica threatened immediately following the second-half restart when Andreia Norton drove a low angled shot toward the corner in the 46th minute, requiring another save from Mahmutovic. A minute later, Dorsin missed connecting with a cross at the far post by inches, and Canadian forward Chandra Davidson directed a header just wide of the post in the 60th minute. Bayern responded by increasing their attacking pressure as the second half developed under coach José Barcala. In the 69th minute, a passing sequence led to Harder shooting from close range, but Benfica goalkeeper Lena Pauels made a decisive block to keep the score level. The decisive moment arrived five minutes later when Bühl struck her long-range effort off the woodwork to give Bayern the lead.

Late scoring sequence and upcoming fixtures

Harder doubled the advantage in the 80th minute with a close-range finish after Bayern maintained offensive pressure against a tiring Benfica defence. Kett added the third goal in the 88th minute to confirm the 3-0 result before the final whistle. The match saw Bayern deploy a starting lineup featuring captain Glódís Viggósdóttir, Stine Ballisager, Giulia Gwinn, Momoko Tanikawa, Bernadette Amani, Linda Dallmann, and Jovana Damnjanovic. Benfica fielded a lineup that also included Pauleta, Anna Csiki, and Carolina Tristão. Bayern's next Champions League fixture takes place at home on 28 October 2026 against Real Madrid, a squad featuring German internationals Elisa Senß, Merle Frohms, and Sara Däbritz.