Bayern Munich struck twice in four minutes in the first half to set them on their way to a 4-3 triumph over an embattled Manchester United on Wednesday and make a winning start in Champions League Group A.
The hosts looked in control throughout despite some sloppy defending at times and came out on top in a seven-goal bonanza with three of the goals coming in the final few minutes.
Goals from Leroy Sané and Serge Gnabry in the 28th and 32nd minutes put the hosts firmly in the driving seat with injury-hit United, who have now lost their last three matches, pulling a goal back in the 49th through Rasmus Hojlund’s deflected effort.
A Harry Kane penalty, awarded for a handball by Christian Eriksen, restored Bayern’s two-goal cushion four minutes later before the game ended with a flurry of late goals.
Casemiro slotted in from close range in the 88th minute but Bayern substitute Mathys Tel scored once more in stoppage time before Casemiro headed in another for United with the last move of the game.
United, who lost 3-1 to both Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal in their previous two matches, have now conceded three goals or more in three consecutive matches for the first time since December 1978.
Yet it had started well for the visitors with Eriksen going agonizingly close in the fourth minute only to see his shot blocked by Bayern keeper Sven Ulreich.
It was a howler by United keeper André Onana that put Bayern in front, with the Cameroon international misjudging Sane’s tame shot and letting it slip past him and into the net.
With Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel serving a one-match suspension from last season and assistant Zsolt Loew on the bench, Bayern scored again with Jamal Musiala setting up Gnabry after a fine solo run.
Hojlund’s deflected effort four minutes after the restart following a quick United passing move gave them some hope but Bayern quickly extinguished it in the 53rd with Kane’s penalty.
“Disappointed because we should stay in the game,” said United coach Erik ten Hag. “If you score three goals at Bayern Munich you have to take a point.
“We are in a period, a lot is going against us. We have to make our own luck. We’ve played great teams in the last three games.”
In a frantic finale Casemiro first hooked the ball in from close range after stumbling to the floor in the 88th minute and then headed their third goal in stoppage time, seconds after Bayern substitute Tel had powered the ball into the roof of the net.
The hosts, undefeated now in their last 28 Champions League group stage home matches also hit the woodwork through Sane and Thomas Müller in the second half.
