Reds beat Barcelona to win group

FC Bayern beat FC Barcelona 3-0 on Wednesday night to win their Champions League group for the fifth time in a row. Sadio Mané and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting handed Bayern a two-goal lead in the first half before Benjamin Pavard rounded off the final scoreline in injury time.

The Bavarians started with Sven Ulreich in goal and Noussair Mazraoui, Dayot Upamecano, Matthijs de Ligt and Alphonso Davies in a back four. Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka featured in midfield behind Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala and Mané, with Choupo-Moting up front. Marcel Sabitzer came on for Goretzka at half-time, with Pavard, Thomas Müller, Ryan Gravenberch and Josip Stanišić taking over from Upamecano, Choupo-Moting, Musiala and Mazraoui in the second half.

Sadio opens

The 99,354 crowd at the Camp Nou saw Bayern go straight onto the front foot. The hosts struggled with Munich's high press, and an early warning came when Mané almost dispossessed Jules Koundé deep in Barca's half. Bayern took the lead when Gnabry's pinpoint through ball from inside his own half found the galloping Mané, who lifted it over Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Barcelona went looking for a reply but failed to create any clear-cut chances while it made them vulnerable on the break. Choupo-Moting miscued but went one better on the half-hour when Musiala played in Gnabry, who invited Choupo-Moting to round off the counter, putting his shot between beat ter Stegen's legs.

The pendulum started to swing the other way, and Robert Lewandowski and Ousmane Dembélé put free-kicks into the wall, although ter Stegen denied Mané and Musiala. Barcelona were awarded a penalty after contact between de Ligt and Lewandowski but it was taken back following VAR intervention, and Bayern were two up at half-time.

Solid defence

Sergio Busquets fired over before Bayern had the ball in the net for a third time when Kimmich's fine chip found Gnabry, who curled into the far corner of the net, but the goal was chalked off for offside.

Ansu Fati hit the side-netting as Barcelona pressed forward but Munich were solid at the back. Ter Stegen denied Gnabry and Mané again but Bayern scored a third in injury time, when Gnabry mishit a shot that found the unmarked Pavard, who mopped up from close range.

The result means Bayern have a maximum 15 points from five matches and cannot be toppled from their perch in Group C. The German record champions will be back in action on Saturday when they entertain Mainz in the Bundesliga.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen