Champions League box guest Tuchel applauds Bayern’s wild top start
FC Bayern Munich won 4-3 against Manchester United at the start of the Champions League. photo
© Tom Weller/dpa
Bayern remain the starting specialists in the Champions League. In the 20th opening win against Manchester United, the absence of the coach is not a handicap. In the end it will be turbulent.
After the turbulent final minutes of their next opening victory in the Champions League, the Bayern professionals only celebrated cautiously in front of the fans.
Even without the active support of Thomas Tuchel on the sidelines, the Munich team maintained their reputation as starting specialists in the premier class in the 4:3 (2:0) win against Manchester United. The suspended coach will hardly have enjoyed the turbulent final phase as a box guest in the European classic.
“In the end, we’re happy that we got the first three points. Of course, the game was a bit wild,” said goalscorer Leroy Sané at DAZN. “We have to make fewer mistakes, all together.”
The first two goals in Munich’s 20th opening win in the premier class were certainly scored by national players Sané (28th minute) and Serge Gnabry (32nd), much to the delight of the designated new national coach Julian Nagelsmann. After United attacker Rasmus Höjlund’s goal (49th), Harry Kane made his big appearance in his premier class debut for FC Bayern. England’s captain converted a hand penalty flatly and sharply (53′).
Wild final phase in Munich
In the final phase it became turbulent again. First Manchester shortened the score through Casemiro (88th), then Bayern joker Mathys Tel countered in stoppage time to make it 4-2. The Brazilian Casemiro once again scored the final point (90+4). Sané, who was again effective on the right wing, also scored a shot at the post thanks to work from Jamal Musiala (56′).
Due to a UEFA ban following a yellow-red card in the quarter-final defeat against Manchester City, Tuchel was not allowed to be in contact with his team before kick-off or during the 90 minutes. “It’s annoying, of course,” said the 50-year-old about his role. After all, he saw an overall convincing performance from his team in his stand. It was the first small step towards the targeted final in 2024 at Wembley. Tuchel’s assistants Zsolt Löw and Anthony Barry successfully took over on the bench.
Müller was only on the bench at the beginning
But Tuchel made the lineup. And Champions League games during Tuchel’s tenure are no longer Thomas Müller games. The 34-year-old sat on the bench, as he did in both games against City in April. Jamal Musiala, who was really fit again, came into the starting line-up. And the 20-year-old not only showed with a brilliant solo run before Gnabry’s 2-0 win why Tuchel called him a “key player” on the streaming service DAZN before kick-off. Müller had to wait until the 87th minute before coming on for Kane.
Before Bayern turned the game their way with the double strike to make it 2-0 in front of 75,000 spectators in the sold-out Allianz Arena, they had walked around the pitch quite disoriented for 20 minutes. The guests dominated, but did not lead because Sven Ulreich parried a dangerous shot from Christian Eriksen in the near corner (4th).
A goalkeeper as support is important. United goalkeeper André Onana confirmed this theory with Bayern’s first goal. Sané shot from 18 meters after a one-two with Kane – and the Cameroon goalkeeper let the durable ball slip into the net. And before the guests had recovered from the deficit, the score was already 2-0.
After the break, after Kane’s penalty at the latest, Bayern had little trouble completing the first step towards their targeted group victory, with the exception of their carelessness when conceding a goal. Eriksen was hit by a header from Dayot Upamecano. With the feeling of a secure home win, the Munich team conceded a second and third goal.
dpa
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