City well beaten at home by Bayern

Manchester City were treated to a football masterclass by Bayern Munich as the reigning European champions ran out easy 3-1 winners in their Group D clash at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

An early goal from Franck Ribery set Pep Guardiola’s side on their way before Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben put the result beyond doubt with two goals in three minutes just before the hour.

Alvaro Negredo pulled one back late on, but it proved merely a consolation for City who were outclassed in all departments on the night.   

 

Bayern were ahead on seven minutes. Rafinha released French winger Ribery down the left who cut inside and unleashed a shot from 25 yards which Joe Hart will have been very disappointed not to have kept out at his near post.

Muller was inches away from doubling the lead on the half hour but was unable to connect with Robben’s dangerous ball across the six-yard box. 

City had no answer to the pace and movement of the German side and would have considered themselves fortunate not to be further behind at the break.

Robben shot narrowly wide immediately after the restart as Bayern continued to dominate, although the home side were beginning to show signs that they were beginning to get a foothold in the game. 

But they were 2-0 down on 56 minutes. Thomas Muller escaped the attentions of Gael Clichy to latch onto Dante’s long ball over the top before rounding Hart and slotting home.  

Robben made it 3-0 just before the hour. City lost the ball in midfield before an early ball found the Dutchman who ran at Matija Nastasic before shooting low past Hart from outside the box, with the City ‘keeper again looking culpable.

He almost added another moments later as Bayern threatened to run riot, but this time Hart was equal to his effort. 

Negredo gave the home side a glimmer of hope ten minutes from time with a superb turn and shot from the edge of the area after good work from David Silva on the left.

It was almost a lot more than a glimmer a few minutes later when Jerome Boateng saw red for a tackle on Yaya Toure as he ran through on goal, but Silva’s resulting free-kick from the edge of the box struck the crossbar and rebounded to safety to end any hopes of an unlikely recovery.

Culled from Setanta