Bayern overcome Galatasaray to maintain perfect start

FC Bayern beat Galatasaray 3-1 on Tuesday to consolidate their lead in Champions League Group A. Kingsley Coman handed Bayern an early lead, Mauro Icardi levelling the scores before half-time in a hard-fought match. Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala scored in the second half to seal all three points.

The Bavarians lined up with Sven Ulreich in goal and Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, Minjae Kim and Alphonso Davies in defence. Konrad Laimer and Joshua Kimmich anchored a midfield featuring Coman, Musiala and Leroy Sané, with Kane as the target man. Bouna Sarr, Mathys Tel and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting came on for Mazraoui, Coman and Kane in the closing stages.

Scorching first half

The noisy full house in Istanbul saw a very intense first 45 minutes. Ulreich denied Kerem Aktürkoğlu, but Bayern soon took an early lead, Sané's square inviting Coman to fire home. Ulreich impressed with a strong save to deny Aktürkoğlu before getting a hand to a Tetê square, with Aktürkoğlu firing over from close range.

Munich struggled with the hosts' aggressive pressing game, Icardi miscuing a header before Lucas Torreira blasted just over. Galatasaray were awarded a penalty after contact between Kimmich and Icardi, the latter converting from the spot. Sané fired over and Kane saw a header saved, Ulreich blocking against Aktürkoğlu before Icardi headed wide. Sané raced past a defender and was through on goal, only for his last touch to let him down. Icardi fired inches wide, and the sides went into half-time with the game finely poised at 1-1.

Kane and Musiala seal it

Sané fired over and Torreira miscued at the other end after the restart, Coman dragging a shot wide before Torreira's header hit the side-netting. Bayern slowly but surely asserted their dominance now. Sané saw an effort saved, but FCB restored their lead when Musiala teed up Kane, whose first shot was blocked, but the England captain slotted home the second ball.

Davies hit the side-netting before Musiala all put the game to bed when he found the bottom corner of the net after Kane's square. Sané saw his free-kick tipped around the post and a Tel effort was blocked before Abdülkerim Bardakçı's header found the net, but the linesman's flag was up for offside as the champions of Germany return home to Munich with three hard-earned points.

The result means Bayern have nine points from three matches in Group A, five clear of Tuesday's opponents. The Bavarians will be back in action on Saturday when they entertain Darmstadt in the Bundesliga.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen