Bundesliga
Bayern Munich produced a scintillating second-half display to beat UEFA Champions League Group C rivals Barcelona on Robert Lewandowski’s return to the Allianz Arena.
Bayern Munich 2-0 Barcelona
Goals: 1-0 Hernandez 50' (assist: Kimmich), 2-0 Sane 54' (assist: Müller)
Bayern faced 10 goal attempts in the first half, including a handful from returning striker Lewandowski, who left the record champions for Barcelona over the summer. Pedri was the first to try his luck, but could not squeeze his shot past Manuel Neuer’s outstretched boot. Lewandowski sent a volley from inside the area over, before having a point-blank header thwarted by his spread-eagle former captain. After shooting wide from 18 yards, Raphinha was denied a shot at goal by the incendiary Alphonso Davies's sensational recovery challenge. Substitute Noussair Mazraoui then put his body on the line to prevent Lewandowski getting a shot off from inside the area. Bayern’s best chance fell moments earlier, but Thomas Müller and Sadio Mane got in a muddle as they both went to apply the finishing touch to Jamal Musiala’s low cross from the right.
Julian Nagelsmann sought to redress the balance with the introduction of midfielder Leon Goreztka for Marcel Sabitzer. The move had the desired effect as Bayern forged ahead within five minutes of the restart. Marc-Andre ter Stegen punched a Goretzka piledriver wide for Bayern’s first corner, which Joshua Kimmich dinked towards the near post for the unmarked Lucas Hernandez to head home. Leroy Sane added a second barely four minutes later, the in-form Bayern winger racing onto Müller through-ball and calmly rolling past the advancing ter Stegen. Pedri clipped the outside of Neuer’s right-hand post after being played in by Lewandowski, before Musiala chanced his arm with a shot from distance following a mazy run. Bayern proceeded to show all their experience to see out the game and move outright top of Group C on six points from two games.
Teams
Bayern: Neuer (c) – Pavard (Mazraoui 21'), Upamecano, Hernandez, Davies – Kimmich, Sabitzer (Goretzka 46') – Sane (Tel 80'), Müller, Musiala (Gravenberch 80') – Mane (Gnabry 69')
Unused subs: Ulreich, de Ligt, Choupo-Moting, Stanisic
Out: Coman (hamstring), Sarr (patella tendon)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Barcelona: ter Stegen – Kounde, Araujo, Christensen (Garcia 70'), Alba – Pedri, Busquets (c) (Kessie 80'), Gavi (de Jong 61') – Raphinha (Ferran Torres 61'), Lewandowski, Dembele (Fati 80')
Unused subs: Inaki, Tenas, Bellerin, Pique, Depay, Jordi Alba, Balde
Out: Roberto (hamstring)
Coach: Xavi
As it happened
Bayern rode their luck in the first half, but were brilliant after the restart. Leon Goretzka's introduction changed the game, ahead of Hernandez and Sane goals. They go top of Group C on maximum points after two matches. It just wasn't Lewandowski's night - thankfully!
Hernandez is off the pitch receiving treatment. Looks like it could be his groin...
Three minutes for Bayern to get a hard-fought win over the line...
Bayern are still under 50 percent for possession and have had fewer shots - yet lead 2-0. Europe, take note!
Sane gets a standing ovation as he makes way - he's been brilliant again tonight. Seventeen-year-old Mathys Tel, who became Bayern's youngest scorer at the weekend, is on. Gravenberch also enters the fray to beef up the midfield, with Musiala heading off. Messrs Fati and Kessie are on for Barcelona.
Bayern are on course for a 12th straight home win in the Champions League groups.
Bayern get very lucky as Lewandowski clips a pass through to Pedri, who only has Neuer to beat from about six yards out. He does that, but his clipped shot hits the outside of the upright and goes wide.
Bayern in their groove now as Musiala exchanges passes with Sane, before blazing over.
Bayern score again! Mazraoui wins back possession and sends Müller rampaging through the Barca half. He threads through Sane who, with Barca attentions perhaps drawn to Mane, slaloms into the box and rolls a shot past the advancing ter Stegen. Incredible stuff since the restart!
Goretzka smashes an effort towards goal, forcing ter Stegen to beat the ball behind for Bayern's first corner. Kimmich drops his delivery in at the near post, where Lucas Hernandez arrives unmarked to head home!
Goretzka is on in an attempt more control to the midfield, but Barca are on the attack immediately as Raphina arrows wide from distance. For a moment, it looked like that was going in.
Superb entertainment for the neutral at the Allianz Arena, though Bayern can count themselves a touch fortunate to be level. Neuer's had to make two big saves, including one from Lewandowski, who might have had a couple of goals on another day. Food for thought for Nagelsmann, despite some promising counter-attacks led by the twinkle-toed Musiala.
It's on a plate for Lewandowski in the Bayern box. He pulls the trigger, only for Mazraoui to slide in and prevent a certain goal. Bayern on thin ice...
Davies uses his pace and power to stop Dembele, who goes to ground wanting a penalty. Hernandez launches a long pass up to Sane as the referee waves play on. He finds Musiala in the box, but his attempted square ball to Müller is cut out.
Musiala bamboozles the Barca defence with a quick turn of pace on the corner of the area. His cross is right on the money towards the penalty spot, but Müller doesn't realise Mane is better placed behind him and toes wide on the stretch with his left foot.
Bayern are at just under 50 percent for possession - an absolute rarity, particularly in front of their own fans. They've also had just the three goal attempts, compared to Barca's nine.
We all know Sabitzer can hit a ball, and that's not far away at all from the Austrian. Ter Stegen doesn't move as his 18-yard strike whistles past the upright.
Mazraoui tests ter Stegen with a tame shot from outside the area. Musiala then works his magic to create an opening, but Müller's attempt to help it on is cut out. Barcelona look long for Lewandowski, who runs at Hernandez and tries to find Raphina in the box. He's all alone, before Davies appears from nowhere to clear. Superb recovery challenge by the rapid Canadian!
Bayern enjoy a promising spell in the Barcelona half, but each time the ball into the box from out wide is steered clear. Barca break out at the third attempt with Raphina, who exchanges passes with Lewandowski and drives narrowly wide from 18 yards.
Pavard hasn't been able to shake off that earlier knock. Noussair Mazraoui, who made his full Bundesliga debut at the weekend, is on.
Raphinha delivers a cross towards the post. Lewandowski meets it from close range, but Neuer makes himself big to make the block.
Bayern almost pay the price for pushing too high. Dembele drives into the space left by Kimmich and Sabitzer, before finding Pedri. Upamecano and Hernandez are almost in the right-back position as the ball is shifted into the penalty box for Lewandowski. He controls well, but sends his volley over the crossbar. He used to bury chances like that at the Allianz Arena!
Neuer with a rare mistake, the Bayern skipper playing his attempted pass straight to Lewandowski. Luckily for Bayern, Upamecano is alert to the danger and uses his sizeable frame to force the Barca No.9 away from goal.
Bayern turn it over quickly as a Barca attack breaks down. Müller plays a ball over the top for Sane, who cuts inside and sees a shot charged down. Confident start by Nagelsmann's side.
Bayern are caught out in their own area. They don't stop Lewandowski, who squares to Pedri. He cuts inside and shoots low, forcing Neuer into a strong save with his right boot.
Bayern get the advantage as Pavard is bumped over in the Bayern half. Sane tries to thread a ball through to Mane, but Barca clear their lines.
A roar rings out as Dembele lose possession. Musiala's on the case, but Barca manage to get the ball back to ter Stegen, who miscues his attempted kick, much to the delight of the Bayern fans.
There was a lot of debate in the German press prior to the game: de Ligt or Upamecano in defence? Nagelsmann has plumped for the latter, the Frenchman's experience in training and as a Leipzig player up against Lewandowski, as well as his pace, proving key.
Lewandowski heads down the line to exchange niceties with every single Bayern player in the tunnel. Classy stuff ahead of the traditional pre-match pomp.
Bayern are unbeaten in nine competitive matches so far this term, winning six. Barca have won five in a row, since drawing their La Liga opener with Rayo Vallecano 0-0.
While Bayern were busy winning their 10th straight Bundesliga title last season, Barca finished some 13 points behind La Liga champions Real Madrid. They also went out of the Champions League at the group stage, before losing their Europa League quarter-final tie to eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt.
Thomas Müller celebrates his 33th birthday day. He has quite the record against Barca: eight goals and two assists in seven games - six wins among them!
It's simple enough, but plenty of Bundesliga teams stopped Lewandowski scoring down the years. "I don't know if Lewy is their most dangerous player, but I'm sure he's their biggest goal threat," Nagelsmann warned of Lewandowski, who has nine goals in six games as a Barca player. "But if he doesn't get the ball, it will be difficult for him to score."