Bundesliga
Lewandowski strikes again in group-topping Kyiv win
Robert Lewandowski scored one of the UEFA Champions League goals of the season as Bayern Munich beat Dynamo Kyiv to secure top spot in Group E.
Dynamo Kyiv 1-2 Bayern Munich
Goals: 0-1 Lewandowski (14'), 0-2 Coman 42' (assist: Tolisso), 1-2 Garmash (70')
Already guaranteed of their place in the knockout rounds, a depleted Bayern were the superior side for much of the first half. Leon Goretzka had a stinging shot blocked by teammate Corentin Tolisso, before the Bundesliga leaders forged ahead. Benjamin Pavard's cross-shot deflected into the path of Lewandowski, who dispatched a sensational overhead kick into the corner. Manuel Neuer miscued a deflected shot onto the woodwork and saved well from Viktor Tsygankov as Kyiv showed signs of life, but those chances only served to poke the Bayern bear. Moments later, Thomas Müller brilliantly dummied a ball across the box, with Kingsley Coman thumping in off the snow-covered crossbar to give Bayern a 2-0 lead.
Tolisso had gone close to a third late in the first half, the Frenchman forcing a flying save from Heorhiy Bushchan. Neuer pulled off an even better stop from Kyiv's Mykola Shaparenko to preserve Bayern’s advantage early in the second period. Alphonso Davies shot wide as Bayern regained their grip on proceedings, only for Kyiv substitute Denys Garmash to reduce the arrears with 20 minutes remaining. Neuer thwarted Serhiy Sydorchuk as Dynamo chased the win needed to keep their European campaign alive. Lewandowski fired wide and Tsygankov struck the outside of the upright in an open finale, but Bayern saw it out to extend their 100 per cent winning start to the 2021/22 competition.
Match stats
- Lewandowski has registered a tournament-leading nine goals after five matches. He has netted in every game this season, and in each of his last nine Champions League appearances, equalling his personal record from 2020. Ruud van Nistelrooy (nine between September 2002 and April 2003) and Cristiano Ronaldo (11 between June 2017 and April 2018) are the only other players who have scored in nine or more games in a row.
- Bayern boast the 2020/21 group stage’s best attack (19 goals scored).
- The record German champions have won their section 18 times, doing so four seasons in a row. Only Barcelona (21) have done so more often.
- Bayern are unbeaten in a competition record 21 away Champions league games (W17, D4), going back to 2017.
- Malik Tillman, 19, made his second senior Bayern appearance, and first in the Champions League.
- Kyiv have lost seven of 12 meetings with Bayern in UEFA competition (W4, D1).
Line-ups
Kyiv: Bushchan - Kedziora (Karavaev 76'), Zabarnyi, Syrota, Mykolenko - Sydorchuk (c), Shaparenko - Tsyhankov, Buyalskyi, De Pena (Garmash 46') - Shkurin (Vitinho 46')
Unused subs: Bokyo, Verbic, Shepeliev, Ramirez, Shabanov, Lednev, Adriyevskiy, Kulach, Antiukh
Out: Besedin (knee), Kargbo (broken leg), Nescheret (knock), Popov (knee), Supryaga (knock)
Coach: Mircea Lucescu
Bayern: Neuer (c) - Pavard, Nianzou (Tillman 84'), Hernandez (Sarr 46'), Davies - Tolisso, Goretzka - Sane (Richards 88'), Müller, Coman (Roca 67') - Lewandowski
Unused subs: Ulreich, Früchtl
Out: Choupo-Moting (not included), Cuisance (not included), Gnabry (not included), Kimmich (not included), Musiala (not included), Sabitzer (calf), Stanisic (not included), Süle (not included), Upamecano (suspended)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
As it happened!
1 - 2(0 - 0)
Kyiv
FINAL
Bayern
90' +4
vs
FIVE FROM FIVE FOR BAYERN!
Bayern will progress from their section as Group E winners after making it five wins from five so far. This game will be remembered for Lewandowski's wonderful 14th-minute opener, with his overhead kick getting the visitors off to a great start. That was the Pole's ninth goal in the group, which was followed three minutes before the break by Coman's first. The French winger gave Bayern an important two-goal cushion at half-time right after Kyiv had enjoyed a good spell. Neuer made some good saves to keep the home side at bay after the interval, but the German champions were made to work hard for their win after Garmash pulled a goal back with 20 minutes to play. Bayern will play their final group match at home against Barcelona on 8 December already guaranteed to finish first in the group, while Kyiv now have no chance of advancing to the knockout stage after their fourth defeat in five.
90' +1
vs
TSYGANKOV GOES AGAIN
Neuer had it covered, but Tsygankov's shot from range clips off the outside of the post as it goes wide.
89'
vs
GREAT SAVING TACKLE!
Not for the first time tonight, Goretzka has made a very important challenge. He got back just in the nick of time to concede a corner, after which Garmash harmlessly heads the ball into Neuer's arms.
88'
vs
Omar Richards
Leroy Sané
87'
vs
ALL CALM
It's all gone quiet again in Ukraine. Bayern are holding on, but have lost Nianzou to injury.
84'
vs
Malik Tillman
Tanguy Nianzou
79'
vs
KYIV NOT DONE YET
Tsygankov drags an effort wide of goal at the other end.
78'
vs
LEWANDOWSKI JUST WIDE!
Twisting and turning in the area, Lewandowski pulls a left-footed shot narrowly wide.
76'
vs
Oleksandr Karavaev
Tomasz Kedziora
74'
vs
KVIV GO CLOSE!
Neuer is forced into another save as Sydorchuk volleys one on target after a corner makes its way to the edge of the area. Bayern manage to scramble it clear.
70'
vs
GOAL BACK FOR KYIV!
Well how did that happen? The game seemed to be meandering along to a quiet end, but Kyiv suddenly find lots of space through the centre of Bayern's defence. Half-time substitute Garmash is played in by Tsygankov and beats Neuer. The 31-year-old has got seven goals in domestic competition for the Ukrainian league leaders this season, and he's now got their first in the Champions League group stage.
67'
vs
Marc Roca
Kingsley Coman
64'
vs
TOLISSO ON THE MARK
Bayern midfielder Tolisso is the next to have a go, but his shot from distance is gathered by the home keeper. The France international has put in a solid shift tonight, with his role in finding Coman for the second goal particularly important.
59'
vs
DAVIES OFF TARGET
Bayern have taken the sting out of things. Alphonso Davies gets forward to try his luck from the edge of the box, but his effort is well wide.
46'
vs
Vitinho
Ilya Shkurin
54'
vs
STRONG START FROM KYIV
Kyiv have not given up on this game yet. They've had a couple of further efforts since Neuer's heroics, and are getting the crowd behind them again.
52'
vs
Bouna Sarr
46'
vs
Denys Garmash
Carlos de Pena
46'
vs
Bouna Sarr
Lucas Hernández
47'
vs
NEUER THE WALL!
Kyiv should have a goal back but the Bayern captain is the reason they haven't got one. Shaparenko gets inside the area and his deflected effort is superbly saved by Neuer. Second time around, from an angle, the Kyiv player elects to square it when it looked easier to score from the rebound. Neuer springs from the floor to cut out the pass with his feet.
46'
vs
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
The second half is up and running... and both sides have made changes.
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BAYERN RUTHLESS
It's been an impressive display in Europe once again from an understrength Bayern. Lewandowski brought the game to life with his stunning overhead kick to give them the lead, and then Coman got his first goal of the group stage after a decent spell from the home side. The visitors have eight attempts to Kyiv's one, and with 68 percent of possession so far it's been an excellent performance so far in snowy and tough conditions in Ukraine.
45' +1
vs
TOLISSO CLOSE!
Bayern midfielder Tolisso eyes up the corner from the edge of the box, but Kyiv keeper Georgiy Bushchan throws himself to his left to tip the ball around the post.
42'
vs
COMAN MAKES IT TWO!
Thomas Müller cleverly leaves a ball run through to Coman on the right of the penalty area, and the French winger places a composed finish high across the keeper. Kyiv will feel a little hard done by given they had done well in the last few minutes, but they'll also have been aware of just how clinical Bayern are.
37'
vs
HERNANDEZ WITH THE BLOCK!
Another opening for Kyiv, but Vitaliy Buyalskiy's cutback is brilliantly cut out by Hernandez.
35'
vs
NEUER SAVES
The home side have had a good spell in the last few minutes, and Neuer does well to adjust and save a deflected long-range attempt from lively winger Tsygankov.
32'
vs
Mykola Shaparenko
29'
vs
KYIV HIT THE POST!
Out of nowhere the home side almost get back on level terms and in the strangest of circumstances. Goretzka slides in to prevent Viktor Tsygankov getting in on the right, and his forceful toe poke goes back towards Manuel Neuer. The bobbly surface doesn't help as the Bayern keeper tries to clear, but he misses his kick and the ball bounces back off the post. Phew!
26'
vs
CONSTANT PRESSURE
The visitors continue to probe, and only a couple of last-ditch Kyiv clearances have prevented Bayern from creating more clear openings.
20'
vs
BAYERN IN COMMAND
The German champions have quitened the crowd, and are now enjoying comfortable possession.
14'
vs
LEWANDOWSKI PUTS BAYERN IN FRONT!
That's an outrageous goal from Robert Lewandowski! Benjamin Pavard fires in a cross-shot from outside the area, the orange ball bounces up and the Polish striker scores a spectacular overhead kick! That's already his ninth goal in the Champions League this season, and his 82nd in the competition overall.
10'
vs
EVEN GAME
Bayern have had 55 percent of possession so far, but the Ukrainian champions have shown they can be a danger.
6'
vs
KYIV THREATEN
Vitaliy Mykolenko plays an excellent ball across the six-yard box but Lucas Hernandez is there to clear it behind for a corner. The home fans are making lots of noise right now.
2'
vs
GORETZKA SHOT BLOCKED
Leon Goretzka smashes a shot towards goal - and it stings the body of his teammate Corentin Tolisso. It looks like it might have been going wide anyway, but it's an early sign of Bayern's intent.
1'
vs
KICK-OFF!
We're underway in heavy snow in Kiev.
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NAGELSMANN: 'CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ALWAYS IMPORTANT'
Bayern have already qualified for the knockout stage with two games to go in Group E, but Julian Nagelsmann says Tuesday's game is still significant. "The Champions League is never unimportant, particularly not for Bayern Munich," the coach said at his pre-match press conference on Monday. "We don't have pressure in terms of results anymore, outside of the normal expectations that are always there for Bayern in every game. The things that we didn't do well in Augsburg and in the weeks before that, these are things that of course we want to improve in Kyiv and to take the next step."
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FOUR BAYERN CHANGES
The snow has started in Kyiv, and the team news is in! There are four changes from the game against Augsburg, with Nianzou replacing the suspended Upamecano at the back and Davies, Tolisso and Coman also coming in.
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BAYERN XI
Neuer - Pavard, Nianzou, Hernandez, Davies - Tolisso, Goretzka - Sane, Müller, Coman - Lewandowski
vs
BAYERN SUBS
Ulreich, Früchtl, Richards, Sarr, Rosa, Tillman
vs
KYIV XI
Bushchan - Kedziora, Zabarnyi, Syrota, Mykolenko - Sydorchuk (c), Shaparenko - Tsyhankov, Buyalskyi, De Pena - Shkurin
vs
KYIV SUBS
Bokyo, Verbic, Shepeliev, Ramirez, Shabanov, Lednev, Adriyevskiy, Garmash, Karavaev, Vitinho, Kulach, Antiukh
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LEWANDOWSKI THE LEADING LIGHT
As ever, Bayern will be counting on Robert Lewandowski to deliver in attack. The Polish striker has netted in each of his last eight appearances in the competition, with his hat-trick against Benfica last time out meaning he now has 81 goals in 100 Champions League games. He's a big reason, of course, why Bayern are unbeaten in 20 away matches in Europe.
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KYIV GOALS
The home side have not had the best of campaigns so far. They drew their opener 0-0 at home to Benfica, and have since lost three times without scoring. Kyiv are bottom of the group, 11 points behind Bayern and five adrift of Barcelona in second. At the very least, Mircea Lucescu will be desperate to see his side get their first goal in Group E tonight.
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BAYERN TO BOUNCE BACK?
Last Friday Bayern slumped to a surprise defeat in Augsburg, meaning their lead over Borrusia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga has now been cut to just one point. Julian Nagelsmann is keen for his side to recover this evening and do the double over Kyiv, who Bayern beat 5-0 at home in September. Eight players - including the likes of Dayot Upamecano and Serge Gnabry - are unavailable for the visitors this evening.