Bayern Munich 4-3 Manchester United – Harry Kane scores again as United lose chaotic seven-goal match in Munich

Goals from Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry, Harry Kane and Mathys Tel gave Bayern a 4-3 win over Manchester United in a game that was more of a contest than many expected. United, for whom Rasmus Hojlund scored his first goal, looked sharp in attack, but poor defending and goalkeeping cost them once again.

United started well and ought to have taken the lead early on, but Alphonso Davies made a fine tackle on Facundo Pellistri before Sven Ulreich saved Christian Eriksen’s subsequent shot. Then, on 28 minutes, Bayern took the lead, Sane playing into Kane, accepting a fine return, and slapping a tame effort over which Andre Onana somehow dived before, shortly afterwards, the brilliance of Jamal Musiala allowed Serge Gnabry to make it 2-0.

After the break United again started well, pulling a goal back on 49 minutes when Rasmus Hojlund somehow recorded his first goal for the club with the aid of two deflections. But within minutes, Bayern won the penalty which made the game safe, Eriksen adjudged – first by VAR, who advised the ref to watch a replay – to have handled Dayot Upamecano’s header. From the penalty spot, Kane made no mistake, and though Casemiro bagged two late goals to make things interesting Tel’s terrific finish in between gave the German champions control of the group, while United desperately need a break.

Manchester United haven’t played that badly this season. They were patently unfit in beating Wolves on the opening weekend but there have been positives in every other game; they should have been in front at Spurs before falling behind; came from behind to beat Forest; lost to Arsenal in injury-time having had a late goal ruled out for a marginal offside; and so on.

But the fact remains, they keep conceding, keep losing, and must now win at Burnley on Saturday night.. However, Raphael Varane will be back, possibly for then, and if they can insert one of Sofyan Amrabat and Kobbie Mainoo into midfield – two players with 0 league starts for United between them who they’re somehow missing – they might just have the solidity necessary for their attack to properly flourish.

In the meantime, though, teams will know they’ve a chance of scoring against United, and it’s not hard to see things spiralling if they don’t put together a run soon.

A beautiful footballer who played beautifully, gliding about the pitch with purpose and grace. His first touch was sure, his body-positions perfect, the way he made his team’s second goal lovely. He’s already one of the best players in the world, and best of all, he’s miles off how good he’s going to be.

Bayern Munich: Ulreich 7, Laimer 5, Upamecano 6, Kim 7, Davies 6, Kimmich 6, Goretzka 6, Sane 8, Musiala 9, Gnabry 7, Kane 7. Subs: Coman 6, Choupo-Moting 7, Tel 7, Muller 6.

Man United: Onana 4, Dalot 6, Lindelof 5, Martinez 5, Reguilon 6, Casemiro 6, Eriksen 6, Fernandes 6, Pellistri 5, Hojlund 6, Rashford 6. Subs: McTominay 6, Martial 7, Garnacho 6.

5’ – HOW HAVE UNITED AVOIDED SCORING!
Bruno chases to the corner, the ball reaches Eriksen on the edge of the box, and he feeds a low pass to Pellistri on the far side! He must score! But Davies slides in brilliantly to tackle … diverting back to Eriksen, who tries to make sure, sweeping carefully inside the near post … but Ulreich does superbly to scramble out an ultimately underpowered effort.

28’ – GOAL! Bayern Munich 1-0 Man United (Sane) Disaster for Andre Onana! Sane dips inside off the right and darts a pass into Kane who, on the move, lays off a beautiful return. so, from the edge, Sane shoots tamely … and Onana dives over it! That’s his third goal-costing error of the season, and his side are in trouble, because resilience is not their thing.

32’ – GOAL! Bayern Munich 2-0 Manchester United (Gnabry) AND THERE IT IS! A lovely take and turn from Musiala, deep in midfield, allows him to stroke the gas and ease away from Dalot, who does well to get back at him. But a chop inside followed by a fortuitous bounce allows him to tee-up Gnabry, who slams low into the far corner. This could get messy now.

49’ – GOAL! Bayern Munich 2-1 Manchester United (Hojlund) DO WE GOT OURSELVES A BALL-GAME?! United win it high again, Bruno touching off for Casemiro, who plays another lovely first-time pass, this time a delicate one, that allows Rashford to square for Hojlund, and hooking around his arse, he bobbles a shot that flicks off two defenders and in, his first goal for his new club!

52’ – THE CORNER PICKS OUT UPAMECANO AT THE BACK POST – He heads back across, the ball flicks off Eriksen’s arm as he tries to move it out of the way, and that’s surely not a penalty? The ref says no, but VAR take a look…

52’ – PENALTY TO BAYERN! I don’t know what to say – I’ve no idea anymore. Eriksen wasn’t seeking to gain an advantage, his hand wasn’t in an unnatural position and he tried to withdraw it, but here we are.

53’ – GOAL! Bayern Munich 3-1 Manchester United (Kane pen) Kane takes a short run-up and absolutely annihilates into the bottom left. Onana guesses right, but that’s unsaveable.

88’ – GOAL! Bayern Munich 3-2 Manchester United (Casemiro) Now then! United work the ball from side to side, short passes with almost every attacker involved – and the move beginning with endeavour from Martial! I know! Theb, when Rashford flicks around the corner, Casemiro, making a third-man run, collects and brings it down, falls as Upamecano challenges, and pokes past Ulreich from on the ground!Is something silly about to happen?

90+2’ – GOAL! Bayern Munich 4-2 Manchester United (Tel) Bayern almost score, Lindelof sliding in to make a desperate tackle before Choupo-Moting shoots against Goretzka. But Bayern maintain pressure, Kimmich lifting a lovely ball over the top and Tel controlling with affirming aplomb on his thigh before poking a terrific finish into the roof. He’s 18! Game over.

90+5’ – GOAL! Bayern Munich 4-3 Manchester United (Casemiro) Bruno curls in a tremendous flat ball, Casemiro glances a header in off a defender, and surely there’s no time for them to score again?! What a perplexing game football is!