Leroy Sane helped Bayern Munich beat Barcelona in UEFA Champions League Group C.
Leroy Sane helped Bayern Munich beat Barcelona in UEFA Champions League Group C. - © Imago
Leroy Sane helped Bayern Munich beat Barcelona in UEFA Champions League Group C. - © Imago
bundesliga

Clinical Bayern Munich down Barcelona on Robert Lewandowski's return

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Bayern Munich produced a scintillating second-half display to beat UEFA Champions League Group C rivals Barcelona on Robert Lewandowski’s return to the Allianz Arena.

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Bayern Munich 2-0 Barcelona
Goals: 1-0 Hernandez 50' (assist: Kimmich), 2-0 Sane 54' (assist: Müller)

Bayern faced 10 goal attempts in the first half, including a handful from returning striker Lewandowski, who left the record champions for Barcelona over the summer. Pedri was the first to try his luck, but could not squeeze his shot past Manuel Neuer’s outstretched boot. Lewandowski sent a volley from inside the area over, before having a point-blank header thwarted by his spread-eagle former captain. After shooting wide from 18 yards, Raphinha was denied a shot at goal by the incendiary Alphonso Davies's sensational recovery challenge. Substitute Noussair Mazraoui then put his body on the line to prevent Lewandowski getting a shot off from inside the area. Bayern’s best chance fell moments earlier, but Thomas Müller and Sadio Mane got in a muddle as they both went to apply the finishing touch to Jamal Musiala’s low cross from the right.

Julian Nagelsmann sought to redress the balance with the introduction of midfielder Leon Goreztka for Marcel Sabitzer. The move had the desired effect as Bayern forged ahead within five minutes of the restart. Marc-Andre ter Stegen punched a Goretzka piledriver wide for Bayern’s first corner, which Joshua Kimmich dinked towards the near post for the unmarked Lucas Hernandez to head home. Leroy Sane added a second barely four minutes later, the in-form Bayern winger racing onto Müller through-ball and calmly rolling past the advancing ter Stegen. Pedri clipped the outside of Neuer’s right-hand post after being played in by Lewandowski, before Musiala chanced his arm with a shot from distance following a mazy run. Bayern proceeded to show all their experience to see out the game and move outright top of Group C on six points from two games.

Match stats

  • Bayern have won nine of their 12 Champions League games against Barcelona (D1 L2), including each of the last five in a row.
  • The six-time winners have also won their last 12 group games at home, and have equalled Real Madrid's record of 30 straight group wins.
  • Sane scored his sixth competitive goal of the season, and second in as many Champions League games.
  • Müller, celebrating his 33th birthday on the day of the game, has scored eight goals in eight Champions League appearances against Barcelona, which is three more than anyone has ever scored against the Catalans in the competition.
  • Lewandowski scored 312 goals in the Bundesliga to sit second in the all-time chart and won the title 10 times (eight for Bayern, two for Borussia Dortmund).
  • Barcelona’s nine Champions League defeats to Bayern are more than twice as many as they have lost against any other opponent (four vs. AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea).

Teams

Bayern: Neuer (c) – Pavard (Mazraoui 21'), Upamecano, Hernandez, Davies – Kimmich, Sabitzer (Goretzka 46') – Sane (Tel 80'), Müller, Musiala (Gravenberch 80') – Mane (Gnabry 69')
Unused subs: Ulreich, de Ligt, Choupo-Moting, Stanisic
Out: Coman (hamstring), Sarr (patella tendon)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

Barcelona: ter Stegen – Kounde, Araujo, Christensen (Garcia 70'), Alba – Pedri, Busquets (c) (Kessie 80'), Gavi (de Jong 61') – Raphinha (Ferran Torres 61'), Lewandowski, Dembele (Fati 80')
Unused subs:
Inaki, Tenas, Bellerin, Pique, Depay, Jordi Alba, Balde
Out:
Roberto (hamstring)
Coach:
Xavi

As it happened