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Jamal Musiala: It's hard to keep up with him
Photograph:
Tom Weller / dpa
Successful start to the new Champions League season: FC Bayern won their opening match against Manchester United 4-3 (2-0). Munich's opening goal in front of their own crowd was scored by Leroy Sané (28th minute), who benefited from a goalkeeper's error in his long-range shot. Serge Gnabry after strong preparatory work by Jamal Musiala (32') and Harry Kane (54') with a hand penalty were also successful, Mathys Tel scored the 4:2 (90'+2). For Manchester United, Danish striker Rasmus Höjlund scored to make it 1-2 (49th), Casemiro shortened again shortly before the end of the game (88th), and the Brazilian scored a second time in injury time to make it 3-4 (90+5).
The Munich team had to do without their head coach Thomas Tuchel on the sidelines. The coach had seen yellow and red in the last Champions League game of the previous season against Manchester City and watched the start of the new season from the stands. But Tuchel's absence off the pitch is unlikely to have caused the Bayern players to have a hard time with their English opponents. United, who had made a miserable start to the Premier League season, appeared dangerously in front of the Bayern goal in the fourth minute, but Christian Eriksen was denied by Sven Ulreich.
It wasn't until the middle of the first half that the Munich team built up more pressure, but without becoming dangerous. Sané's unplaced shot from around 20 yards in the 28th minute did not seem to cause any problems for Manchester keeper Andre Onana. But then the ball slipped through the fingers of the goalkeeper, who had come from Inter Milan for a transfer fee of 52 million euros – 1-0.
This broke United's resistance. Four minutes later, Jamal Musiala picked up the pace, pulling on three defenders, and under pressure he also managed the perfect pass in the penalty area to Gnabry, who made it 2-0.
After the change of sides, United took advantage of a mistake in the Munich build-up. Musiala lost the ball just outside his own penalty area, the English quickly switched and Höjlund scored the follow-up goal from a few meters (49th). Bayern, however, quickly corrected the result, as the ball bounced to Eriksen's arm with a header from Dayot Upamecano and there were penalties after video evidence. Harry Kane confidently converted (54th).
In the 62nd minute, the spectators were amazed at another individual action by Musiala, who had marched across half the field and served Kane with a good pass. But the Englishman missed his second goal from an acute angle. Because Bayern were not efficient enough with their chances, Casemiro brought United close again when he smashed the ball into the goal while lying down (88th). Joker Tel scored with a volley under the bar to make it 4-2 (90+2). Casemiro's second goal shortly afterwards could not save United.
Bayern's next opponent is Galatasaray Istanbul on 24 October, while FC Copenhagen awaits on matchday three. The two group opponents drew 2-2, with Copenhagen squandering a 2-0 lead in Istanbul in the closing minutes. Here you will find an overview with all results and tables for the Champions League.
Scott