Bayern Munich extended their lead in Group A with a challenging 3-1 victory over Turkish side Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Kingsley Coman gave the Bundesliga giants the lead after just eight minutes at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium after powering home an effort from inside the area, but Mauro Icardi’s penalty would bring Galatasaray level before half-time in a frantic opening 45 minutes in which both sides looked incredibly dangerous going forward.
Despite Bayern not being anywhere near their best, they got the job done. Goals from Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala within six second-half minutes put the visitors out of sight and extended the Germans’ astounding 37-game Champions League group stage run without defeat.
How the game unfolded
Despite a lengthy injury list that wreaked havoc on Thomas Tuchel’s substitutes bench, the Bayern boss was still able to field a fiercely strong lineup for the trip to Turkey. It took just eight minutes for the German champions to take the lead too, Coman thrashing a low drive beyond Fernando Muslera from within the penalty area after a lovely Leroy Sane pass.
However, the hosts had started well and almost drew level just a minute after Bayern’s opener when Kerem Akturkoglu’s acrobatic scissor kick was tipped round the post by Sven Ulreich. The Turkish attacker was gifted another glorious opportunity just moments later when a routine cross was spilled by the visiting goalkeeper, only for the Galatasaray man to fire over from eight yards out.
A breathless opening 30 minutes culminated in Galatasaray getting a well-earned equaliser. Icardi was felled in the box by the lunging Joshua Kimmich and, despite missing a spot-kick against Manchester United in his last European outing, the Argentine chipped down the middle with a delicate Panenka to bring the hosts level.
Akturkoglu spurned another chance to add his name to the scoresheet as the half drew to a close, forcing Ulreich into an outstretched save after getting the better of Kim Min-jae. Icardi then had the chance for a double, curling an effort wide from inside the area that really should have nestled in the bottom corner. Bayern were lucky to be level at the break.
The relentless pace of the first half slowed down somewhat after the break, but it still took just five minutes for Bayern to create the first opening. Coman darted in behind the incredibly high Galatasaray backline, making his way to the edge of the area and cutting back for Sane, but the German could only flash his effort over the crossbar.
Half-chances came and went for Lucas Torreira and Icardi, while Sane stung the palms of Muslera at the other end as both sides searched for the breakthrough. Galatasaray continued to huff and puff, but their first-half exertions began to catch up with them and Bayern took advantage.
Having been a passenger all evening and shown so little in the attacking third, Kane did what he does best – score goals. The England captain redirected Musiala’s effort goalwards from several yards out, turning in the rebound after his initial flick was blocked on the line. Out of nothing, Bayern were back in front.
Suddenly, within six minutes the game was beyond Galatasaray in spite of all their hard work. This time Kane turned provider, finding young Musiala in the penalty area. The majestic 20-year-old made no mistake from 12 yards out, shimmying on to his right foot and curling the ball effortlessly into the far corner to put the game beyond doubt.
Tuchel’s men saw out the game comfortably to make it three wins from as many matches as Bayern extended their lead atop Group A. It wasn’t a vintage performance from the Bavarians, but it was typically efficient in the end.
GK: Sven Ulreich – 6/10 – Made some strong saves in the first half to keep Galatasaray at bay, but also made a handling error that could have proved costly.
RB: Noussair Mazraoui – 6/10 – Helped create Bayern’s second goal with some nice work down the right, but was largely anonymous otherwise. Struggled defensively at times and perhaps wasn’t fully fit after a late fitness test.
CB: Matthijs de Ligt – 6/10 – The best of a somewhat shaky defensive pairing alongside Kim, but did the basics relatively well. Used his physicality well to nullify some Galatasaray attacks.
CB: Kim Min-jae – 5/10 – An uncharacteristically sloppy performance from the towering centre-half. Made some rash decisions in defensive areas and wasn’t anywhere close to his imperious best. Wasteful in possession as well, often firing hopeful long balls up to the front three.
LB: Alphonso Davies – 7/10 – Tete got absolutely no change out of the left-back with Davies repeatedly rebuffing the Brazilian’s attempts to get past him down Galatasaray’s right. Provided plenty of energy in attacking areas too.
CM: Konrad Laimer – 6/10 – Did his best to cover ground in central areas, but, like many of his teammates, struggled at times with Galatasaray’s press. Didn’t do too much wrong in a flat Bayern performance.
CM: Joshua Kimmich – 5/10 – Not at his composed best, getting caught in possession several times in dangerous areas and looking ineffective from set-pieces. Gave away the penalty with a needless diving challenge in the area.
RM: Kingsley Coman – 7/10 – Showed wonderful composure for the opener, picking out the bottom corner with aplomb. A constant threat down the right flank and, while not being at his best, was the most influential attacking player for the Bavarians.
AM: Jamal Musiala – 7/10 – Some neat touches in tight areas during the first half. Went missing for around half-an-hour and then popped up with a goal and played a huge part in Bayern’s second.
LM: Leroy Sane – 7/10 – A lovely pass that created the opening goal and made plenty of pacy runs in behind Sacha Boey down the left. Overran a couple of one-on-ones in the first half and lacked a little end product despite looking lively.
ST: Harry Kane – 7/10 – Did absolutely nothing for 70 minutes having been a passenger up top for Bayern. However, great goalscorers decide matches and that’s exactly what he did, finding himself in the right place at the right time for his goal and providing the assist for Bayern’s third.
Substitutes
SUB: Bouna Sarr (78′ for Mazraoui) – 6/10
SUB: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (83′ for Kane) – N/A
SUB: Mathys Tel (83′ for Coman) – N/A
Subs not used: Daniel Peretz (GK), Frans Kratzig, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Thomas Muller.
Manager
Thomas Tuchel – 5/10 – Not a particularly strong performance from Bayern, with Tuchel relying on individual quality to get his side over the line. Galatasaray caused all sorts of problems, with the Bundesliga champions slightly lucky to get all three points.
Player of the match: Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich)
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