Morocco Benatia Set to Miss Bayern Game Against Benfica

Morocco defender Mehdi Benatia is set to miss Bayern Munich’s UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg match at home to Benfica tonight.


The North African has not been a regular starter for the German champions throughout the season, but offers coach Pep Guardiola a useful defensive option to bring off the bench.

Benatia started their last UCL match, a 4-2 home win over Juventus on March 16 which booked their place in the last eight, but he was withdrawn at half time.

However, an adductor issue has kept the player out of Bayern’s last two matches, including a 1-0 Bundesliga win over Eintracht Frankfurt this past weekend, as well as Morocco’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying wins over Cape Verde last month.

Benatia is not the only big-name player set to miss out for the German hosts, with Jerome Boateng and Holger Badstuber also side-lined with injury, while Dutch winger Arjen Robben is doubtful.

Bayern will host Benfica at the Allianz Arena tonight, with kick-off set for 20h45 CAT. The evening’s other match sees an all-Spanish clash between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou. The return matches will be played next Wednesday.