Bundesliga

Bayern to face Man City or Celtic in play-offs

Harry Kane's (r.) sixth UEFA Champions League goal of the season helped Bayern Munich beat Slovan Bratislava, but not bypass the last 16 play-offs.
Harry Kane's (r.) sixth UEFA Champions League goal of the season helped Bayern Munich beat Slovan Bratislava, but not bypass the last 16 play-offs.

Bayern Munich will face either Manchester City or Celtic in the UEFA Champions League last 16 play-offs after missing out on direct qualification, despite beating Slovan Bratislava in their final league phase fixture.

Bayern Munich 3-1 Slovan Bratislava
Goals: 1-0 
Müller 8' (assist: Kimmich), 2-0 Kane (assist: Musiala), 3-0 Coman 84', 3-1 Tolić 90'

Bayern knew they had to win to have any chance of bypassing the play-offs, whilst needing favourable results elsewhere. The Bundesliga leaders kept up their end of the bargain with an early goal at an expectant Allianz Arena as Thomas Müller converted a Joshua Kimmich cross for his fifth competitive goal of the season. Bayern had already tested Dominik Takáč twice by that point through Mathys Tel and Harry Kane. They continued to knock at the door, albeit being largely restricted to speculative efforts and half chances. Tel spurned the clearest-cut of the bunch, the French teenager racing through on goal only to plant his shot into the side netting. Between times, Slovan almost nicked an equaliser, with Manuel Neuer brilliantly denying Tigran Barseghyan and Kimmich blocking Nino Marcelli's follow-up.

The second half continued in much the same pattern as the first, with Bayern in control as Takáč denied Leroy Sané and Tel. Vincent Kompany tried to inject a little more life into his side's attacking play with a trio of substitutes just past the hour. Jamal Musiala's impact was immediate, the fresh pair of Bayern legs' deflected cross finding Kane for a close-range finish and overdue two-goal cushion. A deflection off a defender prevented Serge Gnabry from adding a third. The Bayern sub was then denied by Takáč following a flowing passing move, but there was no stopping Kingsley Coman from burying the rebound. Marko Tolić thundered in an unstoppable consolation goal for Slovan in the 90th minute, but it was all academic for Bayern. Results involving the teams around them mean they finish the league phase in 12th and go into Friday's last 16 play-off draw, with Pep Guardiola's Man City or Scottish champions Celtic the opposition.

Match stats

Teams

Bayern: Neuer (c) - Kimmich, Stanišić, Kim, Boey (Gnabry 62') - Pavlović - Sané, Müller (Musiala 62'), Olise, Tel (Coman 62') - Kane
Unused subs:
Schmitt, Klanac, Upamecano, Palhinha, Guerreiro, Laimer, Buchmann, Aznou
Out:
Dier (unconfirmed), Goretzka (suspended), Ito (foot), Peretz (kidney), Ulreich (suspended)
Coach:
Vincent Kompany

Slovan: Takáč - Blackman, Kashia (c), Wimmer, Zuberu (Tolić 77') - Bajrić, Savvidis - Szöke (Mustafić 77') - Barseghyan (Mak 70'), Strelec (Metsoko 70'), Marcelli (Medveděv 62')
Unused subs:
Mikoláš, Trnovský, Voet, Pauschek, Gajdoš, Vojtko, Ihnatenko
Out:
Kucka (knee)
Coach:
Vladimír Weiss

As it happened!

New posts available
3 - 1(1 - 0)
Bayern
FINAL
Bratislava
Champions League League phase, Matchday 8 Allianz Arena
90'
vs

What a hit!

Marko Tolić with a superb consolation goal for Slovan. He was way out, but Neuer had no chance.

90' +1
vs

Added time

Three more minutes in Munich. Still time for Bayern to sneak through to the last 16 without having to face a play-off...

90'
vs
Marko Tolić

GOAL!

3:1
85'
vs

Back in the swing

Guerreiro's on for the final stages. Stanisic can be happy with his display on his first competitive start since August.

84'
vs
Raphaël Guerreiro
Josip Stanišić
84'
vs

Threeasy-peasy!

Another Bayern sub with a goal. It's a lovely team move, with Olise, Musiala and Kane combining to great effect. Takáč thwarts Gnabry, but can do nothing about Coman on the rebound.

84'
vs
Kingsley Coman

GOAL!

3:0
79'
vs

Close!

Gnabry's been a real live wire since coming on. He almost gets his goal, but a deflection takes his shot on the turn over.

77'
vs
Marko Tolić
Sharani Zuberu
77'
vs
Alen Mustafić
Július Szöke
74'
vs

Permutations

Bayern are coasting, Slovan look beaten. The problem is: the five teams immediately above Kompany's charges are also all winning. They need more goals and someone to do them a favour to advance as one of the top eight.

70'
vs
Idjessi Metsoko
David Strelec
70'
vs
Róbert Mak
Tigran Barseghyan
66'
vs

Fresh legs, fresh ideas

Gnabry has a second bite of the cherry after his first shot is blocked. His second is straight at the goalkeeper. Kompany's changes are having the desired effect, mind...

63'
vs

Kane gives Bayern daylight

At last! Musiala, who'd only just come on as one of three Bayern changes, makes an instant impact. His deflected cross falls for Kane, who can't miss from close range.

62'
vs
Jurij Medveděv
Nin Marcelli
62'
vs
Jamal Musiala
Thomas Müller
62'
vs
Serge Gnabry
Sacha Boey
62'
vs
Kingsley Coman
Mathys Tel
63'
vs
Harry Kane

GOAL!

2:0
58'
vs

Counter threat

Slovan hit Bayern on the break, with Blackmann leading the charge. He sweeps a pass into the middle, but Pavlović slides in to make a crucial block. Such a dangerous scoreline for the hosts, this...

57'
vs

Chances

Takáč thwarts Tel, before Müller fails to do more with a Kimmich pass into the danger zone. Much like in the first half, Bayern are asking all the questions...

54'
vs

Takáč on hand

Slovan's stopper makes a strong save to prevent Sané finding the corner after great work by Olise. He's certainly not letting the occasion get the better of him.

50'
vs

Right idea, wrong execution

Bayern continue to get decent balls into the opposition penalty area, but the end product just isn't there yet. Case in point just now as Kane fails to make more of Müller's well-worked pass, the England man firing wide.

46'
vs

As you were

No changes at the break. Bayern do have the likes of Coman, Gnabry and Musiala on the bench, though...

0 - 0

Kick-off!

0 - 0

Half-time

41'
vs

Worth a hit

Kim scored in the Bundesliga at the weekend, but his latest effort - an optimistic strike from fully 30 yards - doesn't find the target. Still, that shows the confidence levels in the Korean defender.

41'
vs

Crossed wires

Kane and Stanišić get in each other's way as Olise pops a promising ball into the penalty area. Stanišić gets there first, the Croatian heading wide.

37'
vs

Radar off

Kane receives a pass into the box from Müller, but gets his timing all wrong and the ball goes harmlessly wide.

36'
vs

All change

Now Leverkusen are in the automatic qualification places as Florian Wirtz breaks the deadlock against Sparta. They climb to seventh, bumping BVB out of the top eight in the process.

34'
vs

From downtown

Bayern from range again as Tel launches a speculative strike over. To Slovan's credit, they're barely conceding any clear-cut chances.

32'
vs
Cesar Blackman
28'
vs

Normal service resumed

Bayern respond with Sané, whose fierce strike is beaten behind by the goalkeeper. Olise's first corner doesn't cause much bother, but Bayern get it back and win another. This time Olise lands a cross in front of Kim, who's taken a little by surprise and can't do anything meaningful with the opportunity.

26'
vs

Nervy moment!

Slovan fashion a great chance for an equaliser from almost nothing. Barseghyan's the instigator as he skirts Stanišić's challenge before shooting goalwards. Neuer makes a brilliant save and Kimmich is on hand to block Marcelli's close-range follow-up.

23'
vs

Tel chance!

The teenager races onto Kimmich's defence-splitting pass, but puts his shot into the side netting with only the goalkeeper to beat. He's kicking himself for not getting that at least on target!

20'
vs

Harry Tame

The Englishman doesn't make a full connection with another superb cross from out wide, allowing Takáč to gather. Slovan do not know how to deal with Bayern's wide players...

18'
vs

Elsewhere...

Dortmund have taken the lead home to Shakhtar. With Milan a goal down in Zagreb, BVB are now up to eighth place, above Bayern on goal difference. Leverkusen - currently goalless with Sparta - are in 11th.

15'
vs

Bayern, Bayern and more Bayern

Slovan can't live with the pace and precision of these Bayern attacks as Tel has an effort charged down. At this rate, the Bavarians could rack up a cricket score...

12'
vs

One-way traffic

Bayern try to press home their advantage, but Olise's shot from outside the area is blocked by Wimmer.

8'
vs

Third time lucky!

Moments after Takáč keeps out Kane, Müller meets Kimmich's inch-perfect pass to put Bayern ahead. Kompany's team are up to 10th in the live table, a point outside the top eight.

8'
vs
Thomas Müller

GOAL!

1:0
5'
vs

Tel!

The young Frenchman gets his head to a cross from the right, but Takáč is able to keep it out.

4'
vs

Bayern in control

As is the norm at the Allianz Arena. This could be a long night of cat and mouse for the visitors...

1'
vs

Under way!

Will it be the last 16 or last 16 play-offs for the Bundesliga leaders? Stay tuned to find out...

0 - 0

Kick-off!

vs

Atmosphere building

The Bayern fans are in jubilant mood. They expect a win and probably a big one at that. The record champions' 9-2 victory over Dinamo on Matchday 1 made them the first team in Champions League history to score nine goals in one match. Will we see a repeat showing?

vs

Welcome return for Stanišić

Stanišić makes only his second start of the season tonight, following five months out with a knee injury. The Croatia international impressed from the bench at the weekend and gets his reward today, though he usually operates at right-back.

vs

More on those teams

With Goretzka suspended and carrying a knock, and Davies ruled out, Kimmich continues at right-back, with Boey on the opposite flank. There's no Dier either, so Stanišić starts in central defence. Olise, Tel and Müller come into a fearsome attack spearheaded by Kane. Musiala is among the Bayern substitutes, as is former Nurember striker Mak for visiting Slovan.

Related news
Discover more

Getting real-time match statistics is as easy as:

  1. Download the Bundesliga app
  2. Click on your favourite match
  3. Get all match stats directly as it happens!