This game was crucial to Guardiola and his squad. The competition, after all, is the Holy Grail in Bavaria and — rightly or wrongly — the manager’s reign will be determined by whether he lifts the trophy.
It is a unique pressure but Guardiola is not someone who will be phased by it. The easy thing to do here, for instance, would have been to select Robert Lewandowski, the third most prolific Champions League marksman since 2012, and go for broke.
Instead, though, Lewandowski, was dropped to the bench and Bayern went with a three-pronged attack, consisting of Franck Ribery and Douglas Costa either side of Thomas Muller.
Everything started so smoothly. Bayern dominated the ball, pinging passes in intricate patterns and hemming Benfica in their own half, with Muller volleying a clear opening wide in the 17th minute.
Then, though, brows began to furrow on Bayern’s bench as, from nowhere, the hosts took an unexpected lead when Raul Jiminez, the Mexican striker, bravely sneaked between Javi Martinez and David Alaba to power home a header.
Had Jiminez seized another chance on the half hour, rather than stabbing a shot at Manuel Neuer, who did not cover himself in glory for Benfica’s goal, the path to Milan would have ended in Lisbon but, soon enough, order was restored.
Philipp Lahm, making his 103rd appearance in the Champions League, fizzed in a cross after Xabi Alonso sent him forward and though it was punched clear by goalkeeper Ederson, the ball arrived at Vidal’s feet, who emphatically returned it to the empty net.
Spinning on his feet and punching the air, Guardiola’s delight — or should that be relief? — was all too apparent. More exuberant celebrations followed in the 52nd minute, when Muller had the simple task of tapping in from six yards after Martinez headed down Alonso’s corner.
Talisca’s restored parity with a brilliant free kick in the 76th minute but, really, it was plain sailing for Bayern. Should they be paired with City, the next few weeks will be anything but.
An enthusiastic Benfica fan with the club's famous eagle painted on his face gets pulses racing ahead of the game
Bayern Munich players jump as part of their defensive wall during the opening exchanges of the quarter-final clash
Manchester United and Arsenal target Renato Sanches heads the ball for Benfica during the first-half
France international playmaker Franck Ribery (centre) has recently returned to action after a long spell on the sidelines
World Cup winner Muller (centre) tries to get a shot away between two Benfica defenders
Bayern Munich's defender Joshua Kimmich (right) wins an aerial duel with Jimenez of Benfica
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Jimenez found his way between a pair of Bayern Munich defenders and avoided Manuel Neuer to net the opener
The Mexico international celebrates after bringing Benfica on level terms with his brave first-half header
Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola holds his face in his hands after watching his side concede the opener
Vidal kept his composure to drill home a long-distance volley for Bayern Munich's equaliser in the first-half
The Chile midfielder, who scored the only goal in the first-leg, gestures towards the Bayern Munich bench
Vidal is crowded by the celebrations of Bayern Munich team-mates as Benfica players trudge off with their heads low
Muller met a headed knockdown from Martinez with a volley to hand Bayern Munich the lead for the first time
The Germany international slams the ball into Benfica's empty net after scoring Bayern Munich's second goal
Bayern Munich's players race to the sidelines at the Luz Stadium after edging closer to the Champions League semi-finals
Benfica coach Rui Vitoria was sent to the stands after disputing the referee's decision not to send Javi Martinez off
Benfica forward Talisca's superb free-kick clears the Bayern Munich wall to draw his side level on the night
The Brazilian celebrates his goal in front of enthusiastic Benfica supporters - but it was not enough to see the Portuguese through
Bayern Munich players celebrate victory on the pitch as they join Manchester City, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the last four
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3538456/Benfica-2-2-Bayern-Munich-agg-2-3-Thomas-Muller-Arturo-Vidal-fire-Pep-Guardiola-s-Champions-League-semi-finals.html#ixzz45oh7j4N9
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