Bayern kick off Champions League with Manchester United win | OneFootball

FC Bayern beat Manchester United 4-3 on Wednesday night to get their Champions League campaign off to a winning start. Leroy Sané and Serge Gnabry handed Bayern a two-goal lead before half-time, Rasmus Hojlund getting one back for the visitors before Harry Kane converted a penalty. Casemiro bagged a brace in the frantic closing stages, but Mathys Tel's goal meant Bayern took three crucial points in the opening game of Group A.

The Bavarians lined up with Sven Ulreich in goal and Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano, Minjae Kim and Alphonso Davies in a back four. Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich anchored a midfield featuring Sané, Jamal Musiala and Gnabry, with Kane at centre-forward. Kingsley Coman, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Tel and Thomas Müller came on for Gnabry, Musiala, Sané and Kane in the second half.

Sané and Gnabry on target

Bayern struggled with United's early pressing at first, and Davies soon made a crucial tackle against Facundo Pellistri before Ulreich saved from Christian Eriksen. Clear-cut chances were few and far between, with Marcus Rashford drawing a comfortable save from Ulreich.

The Bundesliga champions slowly upped the pressure and took the lead when Sané had a go following a one-two with Kane, with goalkeeper André Onana letting it through. Musiala soon shone with a mazy dribble before cutting back to the unmarked Gnabry, who smashed home to make it two. Hojlund miscued a header and Goretzka saw an effort blocked before Sané almost added a third with the half-time whistle imminent, but he fired inches wide.

A tense finish

The second half began with a setback as Hojlund beat Ulreich with the help of a deflection. FCB went looking for a reply, and Musiala hit the side-netting before Bayern were awarded a penalty for handball, Kane dispatching to restore the two-goal lead.

Sané hit the post and saw an effort saved, with Onana also denying Kane. United increasingly opened up, but Onana thwarted a fourth with more saves against fellow Cameroon international Choupo-Moting and Coman. Casemiro netted a second goal for the Red Devils with two minutes of normal time remaining before Müller hit the post at the other end, but Tel found the net in added time, and Bayern saw it out despite another Casemiro goal.

The German record champions will be back in action on Saturday when they entertain Bochum in the Bundesliga.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen

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Photos from the opening win against Manchester United

The best photos from Bayern's opening Champions League game of 2023/24 at home to Manchester United.