Benfica vow to fight back

– Benfica’s coach Rui Vitoria (above) has warned Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich to expect a fight in Lisbon following the Bavarians’ 1- 0 win in Tuesday’s Champions League quarterfinal, fi rst leg.

Bayern’s Arturo Vidal netted just 109 seconds into the first leg at Munich’s Allianz Arena to give the Germans the slenderest of leads for the second leg on Wednesday next week.

But Vitoria has warned star-studded Bayern they will have to battle to get a result at Benfica’s Estadio da Luz if they want to reach a fi fth straight Champions League semifinal.

“My players implemented our strategy very well and I am proud because we put in a good performance,” said Benfica’s Vitoria.

“It’s not easy to get a result and most teams have great difficulties here.

“So I am very, very happy with the way we played. We will fight for every centimetre in Lisbon.”

Vitoria’s Benfica can take plenty of heart before the second leg, but the Portuguese league leaders will be without top-scorer Jonas.

The 32-year-old picked up a second-half booking, his third of the tournament, which means he will be suspended for the return.

Bayern boss Pep Guardiola was pleased to take even a slender lead to Lisbon.

“I am very happy, because I know the level of the opponents,” said the Spaniard, who is in his third and final season in Munich before coaching Manchester City next season.

Guardiola singled out Chile international Vidal, 28, for praise in a good all-round display in the midfield holding role. “Arturo is very, very important for us,” said Guardiola. – AFP

Munich