Defending Premier League Champions Manchester City experienced the type of heartbreak that only the European nights of the UEFA Champions League can dish out, as host Bayern Munich snatched a 1-0 victory in the 90th minute. City was no stranger to the German champions, as they were in the same group last year as well when City won at the Allianz Arena last December. Despite both clubs winning their respective domestic leagues, they found themselves in the same Champions League group, as the pots are currently based on the clubs’ previous performances in the Champions League, not how they fared domestically, though that soon may change.
Much of the pre-match coverage focused on who would NOT be on the pitch rather than who would be playing, as Bayern was without stars Franck Ribéry, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Arjen Robben (who was on the bench). Manchester City had star Sergio Agüero on the bench, but more importantly, was without manager Manuel Pellegrini, who was serving the last of his touchline ban for criticizing an official following City’s Champions League match against Barcelona last season. Pellegrini was forced to sit helplessly and watch from the stands just like the fans (not always too fun is it Manuel?).
Bayern, sporting a very America-esque red-white-and-blue kit, almost scored in the opening minute as the ball was flipped to Thomas Müller, who got around City keeper Joe Hart, but could not put the ball on target, as it ended up in the side-netting. Müller definitely took a knock from Hart on the play and was visibly upset that he did not get the penalty call. Sadly, the fact that he stayed on his feet may have prevented him from getting the call.
Throughout the first half, both sides had excellent chances to score and the match was a very lively affair. In an unusual strategy for a Pep Guardiola-side, Bayern was flying down the flanks and then relying on crosses into the box as part of its offense. Guardiola, perhaps trying to take advantage of the fact that Pellegrini was not on the sideline, was also constantly moving his players around, as David Alaba was moved from left back to the center of midfield in the 32nd minute.
There were no changes at halftime, but Bayern began to press more in search of goal. Despite the pressure, City still looked very effective on the counterattack, but German super keeper Manuel Neuer (who this commentator thinks looks like an Indiana Jones villain) could not be beaten and excelled in the “sweeper keeper” role that he played for Germany at the World Cup, mopping up dangerous balls that appeared outside the penalty area.
For all the attention that summer transfer Robert Lewandowski got for coming over from rival Borussia Dortmund, it was Müller that was the focal point of Munich’s attack. While he looked dangerous in the first half as we noted, in the second half, he began to press and resorted to low-percentage, long-range wild shots at the goal that soared into the stands.
Both managers brought in their big guns off the bench, as City brought on Agüero for Edin Dzeko and Bayern brought on Robben to replace Müller. Robben immediately took control of the match and within minutes had fallen down in the box and was asking for a penalty call. The shot of Robben writhing on the ground with his arms raised asking for a foul channeled memories of Robert Griffin III laying on the ground grabbing his leg last weekend: you hoped you wouldn’t ever have to see it again...but deep down, you knew you would. Sadly for Arjen, the referee was not interested in his theatrics.
As the clock ran down into the final minutes, it appeared that City would escape Allianz Arena with a hard-fought point, but it was not meant to be. After City failed to clear the ball from its area on several occasions, the ball fell to the feet of Boateng, the former City player, in the 90th minute. Boateng squared up and smashed a volley with his right foot that curled into the right-side of the goal past a helpless Joe Hart to nip his former club at the death. The goal was Boateng’s first-ever in the Champions League and it could not have come at a better time.
City had a few minutes left to desperately search for an equalizer. Agüero was able to fight his way past the Bayern defense in the penalty area and put a toe to the ball in the closing seconds. The ball got past Neuer, but slid just wide of the goal, vanquishing City’s hopes for good.
For their next matches, Bayern travels to bottom of the table Hamburg (USA wunderkind Julian Green against his parent club!) on Saturday in the Bundesliga, while Manchester City hosts Premier League leaders Chelsea on Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. EST on NBC Sports Network.
After a two-week break, the Champions League resumes on Tuesday, September 30th, and Bayern will travel to CSKA Moscow, while City will host AS Roma. In the other match from this group today, Roma pounded Moscow 5-1, so the next fixture will be very important for City to get back on track if it hopes to advance to the knockout round.
Follow Mike Smith on Twitter @thefootiegent
