The game was nothing short of a spectacle, with both teams contributing to a seven-goal thriller in the opening fixture of the 2023-2024 Champions League group stage, hosted at the Allianz Arena. The “Red Devils” fell short, succumbing to a 4-3 defeat as the “Bavarian giants” claimed the top spot in Group A.
Bayern Munich continued their dominance over Manchester United at home in the Champions League, maintaining their unbeaten streak with a deserved 4-3 victory. The hosts outclassed the visitors in various aspects, from ball possession to finishing, and their ability to capitalize on goal-scoring opportunities.
With this sweet victory over Manchester United, Bayern Munich is solidifying the Allianz Arena as their fortress. The “Bavarians” extended their winning streak in European competitions on home turf to 15 matches and continued their unbeaten run in the Champions League group stage, reaching an impressive 35 consecutive matches without defeat.
Manchester United entered the Allianz Arena with a lineup that saw minimal changes compared to their previous defeat to Brighton. Manager Ten Hag made just one adjustment, replacing McTominay with Pellistri. Despite the home advantage, Bayern Munich initiated the game comfortably, dominating possession, but they found it challenging to break through the visitors’ defense.
After a relatively quiet first half, Bayern Munich began to shift gears. In the 28th minute, Sane combined with Kane to penetrate Manchester United’s defense, and the German forward’s low shot from the edge of the box slipped past Onana, who failed to make the crucial save, resulting in a lead for the home side.
The opening goal bolstered Bayern Munich’s confidence. In the 32nd minute, Musiala showcased his strength on the left flank, providing an opportunity for Gnabry to score with a precise one-touch finish inside the penalty area. The diagonal shot from the Bayern Munich forward left Onana with no chance as the ball found the back of the net.
In response to the deficit, Manchester United launched a counterattack. In the 49th minute, Hojlund received the ball in the center of the penalty area, turned, and unleashed a low, dangerous shot that caught Ulreich off guard. The score was narrowed to 2-1 in favor of Manchester United.
However, Manchester United’s hopes of securing points were dashed when Bayern Munich quickly reestablished a two-goal lead. In the 53rd minute, Kane successfully converted a penalty, making it 3-1. Prior to that, Eriksen had handled the ball inside the penalty area, leading to a VAR-assisted penalty decision in favor of Bayern Munich.
Manchester United came close to conceding their fourth goal in the 56th minute when Sane made a powerful run, evading Reguilon’s challenge. Unfortunately for Sane, his diagonal shot, though past Onana, struck the post and bounced out.
Towards the end, the match unexpectedly turned even more exciting. In the 88th minute, Casemiro penetrated the penalty area, despite being fouled by the opposition, and managed to score with a low shot that found the bottom left corner. Ulreich’s vision was obstructed, preventing him from reacting in time.
Hope for a late equalizer surged for Manchester United, but Bayern Munich did not relinquish their control. In the 90+2 minute, after a chaotic goalmouth scramble following a shot that hit the post, the home team continued to press, and Tel received the ball and calmly slotted it home to make it 4-2.
The final score of 4-3 was sealed in the 90+5 minute. From Fernandes’ free-kick, Casemiro rose to head the ball into the net, securing his third goal of the match for the visitors. The limited added time was not enough for Manchester United to find an equalizer, leaving them to swallow a bitter defeat.
In the other match of Group A, Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen played to a 2-2 draw, with each team earning a single point. As a result, after the first round of matches, Bayern Munich has taken the top spot in the group, while Manchester United finds themselves at the bottom of the table.
