(Football news) The Bundesliga winners led 2-0 at the break, thanks to goals from Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry, before Rasmus Hojlund scored his first goal for Manchester United early in the second period.
However, Bayern recovered their two-goal lead four minutes later from the penalty spot, with Kane scoring after Christian Eriksen was cautioned for handball. Casemiro’s late goal set up a thrilling conclusion in Munich, but Bayern scored again through Mathys Tel to secure all three points.
There was still time for another goal, with Casemiro headed a Bruno Fernandes free kick into the bottom corner, only for the referee’s whistle to sound practically shortly after the restart.
Man United have now lost their previous three matches in all competitions, while Bayern have gained early control of Group A, sitting atop the table following the opening round of games.The visitors arrived in Munich missing a slew of key players owing to injuries and personal difficulties, as well as coming off a 3-1 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.
Scott McTominay was replaced in the away side’s XI by Facundo Pellistri, while a certain Kane led the Bayern attack, looking to add to the four goals he had previously scored for the Bundesliga champions.
Sane broke through the Man United defence within the first three minutes, but his shot from a wide area was diverted wide of the post by Lisandro Martinez.
Christian Eriksen, who had broken into the Bayern box, hit a low cross for Pellistri in the fourth minute, but Alphonso Davies made a fantastic last-ditch block before Eriksen was denied by Sven Ulreich.
Bayern’s custodian then had to deny Marcus Rashford in the 18th minute, as the visitors got off to a brighter start at Allianz Arena. The home side got a half-chance in the 20th minute when Kane released Jamal Musiala, but Victor Lindelof was across to block the Germany international’s strike.
Martinez then defended excellently against Gnabry two minutes later, as the Bayern attacker threatened to break into a one-on-one scenario with Red Devils custodian Andre Onana.
Bayern made the breakthrough in the 28th minute when Sane’s long-range shot slipped between the arms of Onana, who made a dreadful mistake. In the 32nd minute, Musiala drove down the left before delivering into Gnabry, who was unmarked and cleanly picked out the bottom corner.
There were no takers on Reguilon’s dangerous cross in the 35th minute, before Fernandes missed the target from distance and Hojlund steered a header over, with the visitors eager to retaliate, but the atmosphere inside the stadium had entirely changed with the quick-fire double.
Late in the first period, Sane twisted one just past the far post, with Bayern threatening to absolutely overwhelm their opponents shortly before the halftime break. Man United got back in the game in the 49th minute, as Hojlund’s shot from within the Bayern area found its way into the net off the foot of Kim Min-jae.
Moments later, Musiala had one deflected just past of the post down the other end, before VAR led the referee across to the monitor to check at a handball from Eriksen inside the area, and a penalty was granted for Bayern in a hammer blow to the Red Devils.
Kane, as expected, came forward to hit the back of the net for the Bundesliga winners, picking out the bottom corner with a beautiful strike. Sane hit the post in the 56th minute after more brilliant work from Musiala, who was the best player on the pitch at Allianz Arena.
On the hour, Sergio Reguilon flashed one across the face of the Bayern goal, with Man United looking threatening on the transition, but they couldn’t seem to close the door at the other end. During a good stretch for the home side, Onana did well to keep out Kane and then Sane. The home side came close again in the 78th minute, with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting stopped by the Man United custodian.
Kingsley Coman was the next Bayern player denied by Onana, who rebounded well from his error to put up a great effort in Munich. With Man United trying for a second goal that would have set up a grandstand finish, Alejandro Garnacho blasted a Rashford cross wide of the post late on, and Casemiro put his name on the scoresheet in the 88th minute when he somehow squeezed the ball into the bottom corner after tumbling to the ground.
Later on, Thomas Muller fired a shot against the Man United post, but Bayern sealed the victory in stoppage time when Tel brilliantly struck the back of the net from within the area. There was time for another goal, with Casemiro heading a Fernandes free kick into the back of the net to complete his hat trick, but the referee’s whistle blew immediately after the restart.
Man United will be looking to avoid a fourth consecutive loss in all competitions when they go to Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday night, while Bayern will be back in Bundesliga action earlier in the day when they host Bochum.
Also read: Sevilla will face RC Lens in UCL 23-24
