Goals: Bayern Munich—Boateng 90’
Recap: Ninety minutes of enthralling football saw Bayern Munich capture a 1-0 victory over Manchester City on Wednesday.
One-sided traffic dictated the tempo of the match, with Munich boasting 56 percent possession and finishing with 14 more attempts than the visitors (20-6). The club would finally be rewarded in the dying minutes of the match. A sensational finish from Jerome Boateng—with the help of a deflection—buried the reigning Premier League champions and sealed a much-needed 1-0 victory.
Key Moment: Thomas Muller had the opportunity to shock the visitors in the opening seconds, only to see his chance safely graze the side of the net. Instead of capturing an early 1-0 lead, Bayern Munich were forced to sweat for the remaining 89 minutes.
Man of the Match: If not for Joe Hart, Bayern Munich’s undressing would’ve been complete. Even in defeat, all seven of the Englishman's saves shined brightest.
Lesson Learned: Manchester City are Premier League champions, but are far from European contenders. The Citizens looked listless in the second half, conceding possession and hoping to escape Munich with a draw. That tactic won’t be enough in the latter stages of the tournament. Eventually, the club will have to shake its underdog mentality and stand toe-to-toe with Europe’s elite.
Up Next: Bayern Munich travel to Hamburg to face Hamburger SV in league play on Saturday, while Manchester City clashes with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Note: Credit all statistics to officially licensed data from Opta Sports (via WhoScored).
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