Bundesliga
Mane helps Bayern book last-16 berth
Sadio Mane scored for the third time in four games as Bayern Munich beat Viktoria Plzen to book their place in the UEFA Champions League last 16 with room to spare, whilst setting a competition record 11 successive group wins.
Viktoria Plzen 2-4 Bayern Munich
Goals: 0-1 Mane 10' (assist: Goretzka), 0-2 Müller 13' (assist: Coman), 0-3 Goretzka 24' (assist: Müller), 0-4 Goretzka 35' (assist: Sane), 1-4 Vlkanova 62' (assist: Mosquera), 2-4 Kliment 75' (assist: Holik)
Leroy Sane had already driven a fierce effort narrowly wide, when Mane exchanged passes with Leon Goretzka and coolly dinked over Jindrich Stanek from close range. The floodgates duly opened as Thomas Müller steered Kingsley Coman’s left-wing cross in for 2-0, before Goretzka got in on the act with a tidy finish into the bottom corner after smart play from Coman and Müller. Stand-in goalkeeper Sven Ulreich atoned for a loose clearance with a double save from Jhon Mosquera and Tomas Chory, but the Bayern onslaught only continued at the other end. With just 35 minutes on the clock, Sane weighted a superb pass into the box for Goretzka to lift Bayern’s fourth goal - and his second - over the goalkeeper.
Bayern would have added to their lead late in the first half, but for Stanek’s outstretched boot denying substitute Mathys Tel a slice of the goal-scoring pie. The Plzen goalkeeper was at it again soon after the restart, prevailing in a promising one-on-one to prevent Goretzka from completing his hat-trick. Erik Jirka shot wide after inadvertently being played in by Josip Stanisic, before Plzen added a footnote to proceedings. After saving well from Ludek Pernica, Ulreich could do nothing to stop Adam Vlkanova firing in from 18 yards or former VfB Stuttgart forward Jan Kliment halving the deficit with a shot on the turn. Stanek pushed a Ryan Gravenberch effort onto the underside of the crossbar and Tel grazed the woodwork, but the damage had long been done. A fourth straight win, coupled with Barcelona's failure to beat Inter Milan in Group C's other game, sends Bayern into the knockouts.
Match stats
- Mane has eight goals in 15 games for Bayern, including two in four in the Champions League.
- Bayern are unbeaten in their last 32 Champions League group games (W29, D3) - an on-going competition record.
- The six-time European champions have won each of their last 11 group games – including all 10 under Julian Nagelsmann.
- Müller scored his 230th competitive Bayern goal (639 appearances).
- Sane has 10 goals and seven assists in his last 14 Champions League outings.
- Paul Wanner is Bayern's youngest Champions League player, aged 16 years and 293 days.
Teams
Plzen: Stanek – Havel (Holik 46'), Hejda (c), Tijani, Jemelka (Pernica 46') – Bucha, Kalvach – Kopic (Jirka 25'), Vlkanova (Pilar 81'), Mosquera – Chory (Kliment 46')
Unused subs: Tvrdon, Jedlicka, Cermak, Bassey, Ndiaye
Out: Reznik (muscular), Sykora (knee)
Coach: Michal Bilek
Bayern: Ulreich – Mazraoui, Pavard, Upamecano (Wanner 70'), Stanisic – Kimmich, Goretzka (Gravenberch 56') – Sane (Sabitzer 70'), Müller (c) (Tel 28'), Coman (Choupo-Moting 46') - Mane
Unused subs: Schenk
Out: Davies (head), de Ligt (muscular), Gnabry (knee), Hernandez (groin), Musiala (not included), Neuer (shoulder), Sarr (patella tendon)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
As it happened
2 - 4(0 - 4)
Plzen
FINAL
Bayern
vs
BAYERN ADVANCE!
With two games to spare at that! A routine win and a record 11th straight three-point haul in the Champions League groups. A jolly good show!
89'
vs
TIME ADDED ON
Two additional minutes. This one has been over as a contest for a good while...
84'
vs
GOAL IN BARCELONA
Lewandowski brings Barca level against Inter, but Bayern are still heading through...
81'
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FINAL CHANGE
Former Freiburg and Wolfsburg forward Pilar is on for Plzen, replacing Vlkanova.
77'
vs
WOODWORK!
Don't poke the Bayern bear, Plzen! Wanner squares for Gravenberch, whose goal-bound shot is pushed onto the underside of the bar by Stanek. Tel then grazes the woodwork from range.
75'
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PLZEN HALVE THE DEFICIT
Kliment controls on the chest and fires in a second Plzen goal on the turn. They can't, can they...?
70'
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WANNER MILESTONE
Sane doesn't get his goal, but he more than played a part in that blistering first-half display. Sabitzer is on, alongside Paul Wanner who, aged 16 years and 293 days, becomes Bayern's youngest player in the Champions League. Upamecano is the other man to make way.
70'
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Marcel Sabitzer
Leroy Sané
70'
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Paul Wanner
Dayot Upamecano
65'
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NEWS FROM CAMP NOU
Inter now lead in Barcelona, which means Bayern are heading through...
62'
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BLOT TO THE COPYBOOK
Bayern concede for the first time in this season's Champions League. Ulreich makes a great save to deny Pernica from a corner, but Plzen keep coming. Mosquera heads a cross back to Vlkanova, who thunders an unstoppable 18-yard strike into the bottom corner. Not even Ulreich and Neuer would have kept that out.
60'
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ONE STEP CLOSER
Inter have equalised in Barcelona in Group C's other game. As things stand, Bayern are heading through to the last 16 with two games to spare.
57'
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WIDE!
Stanisic inadvertently heads a ball down for Jirka in the Bayern box. He winds up on his left foot, but can't keep the shot down.
56'
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LIKE-FOR-LIKE CHANGE
There won't be a first career hat-trick for Gorezka. He's replaced by Gravenberch.
56'
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Ryan Gravenberch
Leon Goretzka
54'
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SECOND GEAR
Bayern have taken their foot off the gas since the restart. Rather than going for the jugular, they're patiently probing for a fifth goal. The record champions have a huge game coming up against Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday, so won't want to overdo it.
49'
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HAT-TRICK HUNTING
Bayern switch the play from right to left in the blink of an eye. Sane threads a gorgeous final pass into the feet of Goretzka, who's beaten to it by Stanek. He tries to turn in the rebound, but goes to ground under the diving goalkeeper.
47'
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NOTHING DOING
Plzen win their first corner of the game. It's cleared as far as Vlkanova, who snatches at a shot from outside the area and blazes off target.
46'
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TRIPLE CHANGE
Havel, Jemelka and Chory make way for Plzen. Holik, Pernica and former VfB Stuttgart striker Kliment are on.
46'
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Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
Kingsley Coman
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HALF-TIME: PLZEN 0-4 BAYERN
Well, well. Bayern have been brilliant. A record 11th straight group win is surely in the bag, and with it their place in the last 16...
0 - 0
Half-time
45'
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BAYERN GO TO SLEEP
Kalvach with a lovely ball to find Mosquera in the box, but the Colombian doesn't make the desired connection at the back post. Huge chance wasted.
43'
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TEL!
Mane has the Plzen defence in his pocket as he wriggles free and feeds the run of Tel. The young Frenchman only has the keeper to beat, but Stanek gets an outstretched boot to a shot destined for the bottom corner.
38'
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KING!
Coman lets fly with Bayern's fifth effort on goal, but this one is too close to Stanek.
35'
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GORETZKA AT THE DOUBLE
Superb chipped finish by the Bayern midfielder, but this goal is all about Sane's beautifully weighted through-ball into the penalty area. Like a knife through Czech butter.
30'
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DOUBLE SAVE
Ulreich passes straight out to Bucha, but atones to block Mosquera's ensuing shot and the rebound attempt from Chory. Plzen should have scored.
28'
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TEL ME MORE
Mathys Tel replaces Müller, who was struggling with illness prior to the game. The 17-year-old substitute has already made history as Bayern's youngest scorer in the Bundesliga and DFB Cup this season...
28'
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Mathys Tel
Thomas Müller
25'
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Erik Jirka
Jan Kopic
24'
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THREE-ASY PEASY!
This could be a long night for Plzen. Coman plays in Müller, who hooks a telling ball into the penalty box. Sane lets it run, and Goretzka tucks away a tidy finish into the bottom corner.
23'
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BAYERN DOMINANT
This has been the perfect start from Bayern. They're already two up, and look capable of getting in behind this Plzen defence every time they go forward.
17'
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MAN DOWN
Chory catches Upamecano in the face with a stray boot. The medical team are on...
13'
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QUICK-FIRE DOUBLE!
Bayern are cruising. Coman races away down the left and has time to pick his cross. It finds Müller, whose side-footed finish leaves Stanek with no chance. Eleven goals without reply and counting for Bayern in Group C...
10'
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BAYERN LEAD!
Lovely goal to break the deadlock. Upamecano sweeps the ball out to the left for Mane. He runs in unchecked, before passing to Goretzka and continuing his run. Plzen don't pick up the Senegal star, who collects the return pass and dinks over Stanek.
7'
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BAYERN BREAK
Right idea from Müller as he plays a one-two with Goretzka on the break, but his lay-off is behind the run of Sane. Relief for the hosts.
2'
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SANE!
So close to the opening goal. Kimmich switches the play to Mane, who drives at the defence and chips a ball into the penalty area. Sane controls well, but drives his right-footed attempt just wide of the far post.
1'
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WE'RE OFF!
Ulreich gets his first touch following the kick-off. It's a loose one - a miscued clearance that goes unpunished.
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TEAMS IN THE TUNNEL
Bayern are in their Champions League strange strip of all white. Kick-off is imminent...
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HUGE HURDLE
"As with everything against Bayern, it's easier said than done," warned Plzen midfielder Jan Kopic in his pre-match press conference.
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RECORD INCOMING
After making it a record 31 group games unbeaten on Matchday 3, Bayern can set a new gold standard as the first team in Champions League history to record 11 consecutive group wins...