Super Bayern down toothless Barca

FC Bayern beat FC Barcelona 3-0 on Tuesday night, getting off to a perfect start to the Champions League campaign. Thomas Müller put Bayern ahead in the first half, Robert Lewandowski doubling the lead after the restart and rounding off his brace in the closing stages, whereas the home side registered no shots on target.

The Bavarians lined up with Manuel Neuer in goal and Benjamin Pavard, Niklas Süle, Dayot Upamecano and Alphonso Davies in a back four. Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka anchored a midfield featuring Jamal Musiala, Müller and Leroy Sané, with Lewandowski up front. Lucas Hernández, Serge Gnabry, Josip Stanišić, Marcel Sabitzer and Kingsley Coman took over from Pavard, Musiala, Süle, Müller and Sané in the second half.

Müller opens

The 40,000 crowd at Camp Nou saw an evenly-matched first quarter-hour before Bayern asserted their authority, finding more and more space thanks to positional flexibility. Barca netminder ter Stegen saved a deflected Goretzka effort, Roberto firing over at the other end.

ter Stegen made a strong save against Sané before Musiala and Kimmich saw their efforts blocked. Bayern took the lead when Müller found the net with the help of a deflection. A Jordi Alba cross evaded de Jong, and Bayern were a goal up at half-time.

Brace for Lewy

The second half started as the first one had, with Barca coping if not dominant at first, but Bayern soon held the upper hand. Müller deflected a Busquets shot behind before ter Stegen denied Sané with another fine save, but a second goal was coming and arrived when Musiala hit the post, but the ball crashed off only as far as Lewandowski, who mopped up.

There was little of attacking note for a spell now, with Bayern shifting down a gear. Former Bayern man Philippe Coutinho aimed too high, with Neuer a virtual spectator throughout the match. Munich upped the pressure in the closing stages, Sabitzer hitting the side-netting, but the final flourish came when Gnabry hit the post and Lewandowski was quickest to react once again, sidestepping an opponent before crashing home, and match official Michael Oliver blew for full-time.

Bayern will be back in action on Saturday, when they entertain Bochum in the Bundesliga. Their next Champions League match will be against Kyiv on 29 September.

Live match report for fcbayern.comby Greg Salmen