Bayern suffer first loss of the season

FC Bayern fell to a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal in Wednesday night’s Champions League top match, suffering their first loss in the 19^th match this season. Jurrien Timber and Lennart Karl traded goals in the first half before subs Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli scored for Arsenal.

Munich started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah and Josip Stanišić in a back four. Aleksandar Pavlović and Joshua Kimmich anchored a midfield featuring Michael Olise, Karl and Serge Gnabry, with Harry Kane up front. Tom Bischof, Nicolas Jackon, Leon Goretzka, Raphaël Guerreiro and Minjae Kim took over from Laimer, Gnabry, Kimmich, Karl and Upamecano in the second half.

Level at half-time

The first half was a balanced affair, with Bayern enjoying more of the ball. Both sides felt each other out before Neuer beat Bukayo Saka to a long ball, but Arsenal took the lead when Timber headed past Neuer from Saka’s corner.

Eberechi Eze fired wide under pressure from Kimmich, but Bayern soon levelled the scored, Kimmich’s forensic pass finding Gnabry, who squared for Karl to fire into the roof of the net. Stanišić blasted wide before keeper David Raya beat Kane to a loose ball in the box, and the sides turned round with the score 1-1.

Gunners punish Bayern’s mistakes

Neuer tipped a Saka effort over the bar before the Gunners created a string of corners, with Mikel Merino heading straight at Neuer. Karl saw a shot saved at the other end and Merino headed just wide before Neuer made fine saves to deny Cristhian Mosquera and Declan Rice.

Arsenal restored their lead when they intercepted a stray pass in Bayern’s half and Riccardo Calafiori’s cross invited Madueke to bury past Neuer. The home side soon made it three on the break, a long ball releasing Martinelli, who evaded the onrushing Neuer and slotted home. Neuer denied Calafiori, with Kim and Goretzka seeing their shots blocked in added time as the Gunners condemned Bayern to their first defeat this season.

The Bavarians will be back in action on Saturday when they entertain St. Pauli in the Bundesliga.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen