FCB overcome Lokomotiv and seal 13th CL win on the bounce

FC Bayern beat Lokomotiv Moscow 2-1 on Tuesday evening, celebrating their 13th straight victory in Europe's elite club competition. Lokomotiv got off to the better start but Bayern were dominant for long spells, Leon Goretzka handing them an early lead. Lokomotiv's Aleksey Miranchuk levelled the scores with 20 minutes to go, but Joshua Kimmich soon restored the lead.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Benjamin Pavard, Niklas Süle, David Alaba and Lucas Hernández in a back four. Kimmich and Goretzka anchored a midfield featuring Thomas Müller, Corentin Tolisso and Kingsley Coman, with Robert Lewandowski up front. Javi Martínez and Serge Gnabry came on for Goretzka and Müller at half-time, Douglas Costa taking over from Coman with 20 minutes to go.

Leon opens

The 7,000 crowd in Moscow saw the hosts spring a surprise, Lokomotiv pressing early in the lively opening stages. The unmarked Fyodor Smolov missed a gilt-edged chance, glancing a header straight at Neuer. Goretzka saw an effort deflected wide as Bayern got a grip. Lewandowski miscued from close range but Bayern soon took the lead thanks to world-class interplay, Tolisso's long diagonal ball finding Pavard on the right. The Frenchman volleyed it into the box and found Goretzka, who headed home.

The home side's impetus ebbed away after the goal, with Bayern in the driving seat. Coman hit the post following another Pavard volley, Kimmich firing over. Pavard saw an effort saved, and Tolisso's miscued header meant Bayern were only one up at half-time.

On tenterhooks

Martínez headed over the bar and Kimmich saw a shot blocked. Neuer denied Vladislav Ignatiev before Coman fired inches wide, but the Russians enjoyed a spell in command now, and Miranchuk levelled the scores on the break.

Zé Luís fired wide against the reeling Bavarians, Miranchuk seeing an effort blocked, but Kimmich soon restored the lead, controlling a Martínez pass before crashing home on the spin from 20 yards. Lokomotiv went looking for a reply in the closing stages, but Bayernn weathered the storm, and match official István Kovács blew for full-time.

Bayern will be back in action on Saturday, when they travel to face Köln in the Bundesliga.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen