Bayern vs. Benfica (November 6, 2024) Before the game

MUNICH, Germany, Nov 5 (Reuters) – Bayern Munich will try to get its Champions League campaign back on track with a victory over visitors Benfica on Wednesday, saying the new competition format does not play a role in the team's planning, said coach Vincent Kompany on Tuesday.

Bayern are leading the Bundesliga title race but have lost two of their three Champions League games so far and are currently 23rd in the competition.

They started their European campaign with a 9-2 win against Dinamo Zagreb before losing to Aston Villa and Barcelona.

“I don’t want to think too far ahead because we have enough games,” Kompany, who was in his first season as coach, said at a news conference. “We have to win against Benfica. I don’t want to spend too much time thinking about what might happen in January.”

“Nobody knows how it will work. All we know is that we want to win tomorrow. We play at home. That’s my only goal,” he said.

Europe's top league has moved from a group stage to a league stage this season, with 36 teams playing eight games each, with the top eight in the table advancing straight to the next round, while the next 16 teams play in two playoffs.

This means that even if Bayern do not make it into the top eight, they can qualify for the knockout rounds via the playoffs.

“We go into this game with a lot of confidence. We will always adapt and take the steps that are right for the team. But to say that we will change everything is not serious. We just want to win at home again,” said Kompany.

Benfica, on the other hand, has won two of its three Champions League games.

“What we know is that you have to win about six games (out of eight) to get into the top eight. You have to win three games and that should be enough for the playoffs. My goal is to get into the top eight,” said Kompany. (Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Hugh Lawson)