Manchester United 0, Bayern Munich 1 (UEFA Champions League Group A)
Kingsley Coman scored a late goal to dump Manchester United out of Europe before Christmas at the hands of Bayern Munich.
The Reds needed a minor miracle but it was never going to happen on a night where they lost Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw to injury and failed to compete both technically and physically with a motivated Bayern who were coming off their own humbling defeat at the weekend (5-1 away at Eintracht Frankfurt).
Compare with a wounded United after their own sad defeat to Bournemouth last weekend and ultimately there was no comparison as the Reds lost battles all around the pitch but somehow managed to give fans in Old Trafford just enough hope that they could rescue something from the game.
For the longest time things looked promising for United as the other game in Group A, between FC Copenhagen and Galatarasaray, had no shots on target until Lukas Lerager scored for the Danes after 58 minutes the first on-target effort of the game.
A winning result in the other game meant United were out of the Champions League regardless of the result against Bayern.
And 12 minutes later United conceded an unprecedented 15th goal in 6 group games with 20 minutes to go as Bayern were rewarded for their dominance with an opening goal by Kingsley Coman after the Reds’ midfield was bypassed again and they were definitely going out of Europe altogether.
The fact that Coman’s goal was laid on by former United target Harry Kane will be a footnote at at the end of an embarrassing campaign that has seen United accrue only 4 points from a possible 18 and finish bottom of their Champions League group for only the second time despite scoring 15 goals (and conceding 12).
And a 12th defeat in 24 games in all competitions this season matches their record in 62 games last season – a genuine slump for the Reds who have been eliminated at the group stage in 3 out of 7 seasons in the Champions League since Sir Alex Ferguson retired – as many early exists as they had under in 18 seasons under Scot.
The embarrassment could continue at Anfield on Sunday when the Reds will be facing Liverpool without Maguire, Shaw, and the suspended Bruno Fernandes.
Embed from Getty ImagesBayern ran the first quarter of the game without producing much in the way of cast iron chances – Joshua Kimmich and Harry Kane had chances to score while Luke Shaw’s thunderbolt of a shot was parried away by Manuel Neuer.
Tempers frayed when Alejandro Garnacho appeared to clash with Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sane almost created a superb chance to score for himself when he carved a path through United’s porous midfield before losing the ball as Harry Maguire came across to block him.
Scott McTominay won a free kick 25 yards out but Bruno Fernandes’ effort was deflected behind for a corner.
Bayern were dominant then and United suffered the blow of losing Harry Maguire to a groin injury before the end of the first half and then Luke Shaw at half time.
Bruno Fernandes blazed over after Shaw’s replacement Aaron Wan-Bissaka cut the ball back to him early in the second half.
Joshua Kimmich blazed over after news filtered through that United’s efforts on the night might not be enough after FC Copenhagen took the lead against Galatasaray.
And the Germans then poured cold water on any hopes United had of continuing in Europe next year by breaking the deadlock.
United’s entire midfield trio were bypassed as Leon Goretzka took them out with a well placed run and pass to release Harry Kane who switched the ball to Kingsley Coman – the French winger did the rest – slotting home from close range after getting in behind Raphael Varane.
Harry Kane put a header from a corner wide – desperate as he was to get on the scoresheet at Old Trafford.
And it was telling that United’s best second half chance was a long punt into the final third by Andre Onana into Hojlund who couldn’t hold the ball up and the experienced Manuel Neuer swept up – United were never going to achieve their target .
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 0, Bayern Munich 1 (UEFA Champions League Group A)
Andre Onana: 5. Stopped early sighter by Harry Kane. Propensity to hit the ball long didn’t help the United build up.
Diogo Dalot: 6. Early chance to cut the ball back but had to watch out for Leroy Sane runs. Had to go left back after Luke Shaw was replaced by Aaron Wan-Bissaka but did better going forward than defensively.
Harry Maguire: 6. Clashed with Jamal Musiala after he tried to win a penalty. Deterred Leroy Sane from an early shot after he had carved the United defence open single handed. Groin injury late in the first half unfortunately saw an early exit for him.
Raphael Varane: 6. Couple of early interceptions after his return to first team action, denying Harry Kane a good headed chance. Bypassed by Harry Kane for the Bayern goal.
Luke Shaw: 5. Turned by an early ball down the channel that allowed Harry Kane to get a cross in. A lot of the Bayern threat came down his side with Kingsley Coman a constant danger.
Scott McTominay: 5. Better going forward, but not the most composed.
Sofyan Amrabat: 5. Outclassed in midfield. shrugged off by Leroy Sane as he went through on goal. Bypassed for the Bayern goal.
Antony: 5. Looked up for it, early shot over the bar, but faded after a flurry of step-overs with Kim Min-jae looking after his predictable cuts inside.
Bruno Fernandes: 6. All action, all mouth. Not much end product and blazed over early in the second half after Aaron Wan-Bissaka teed him up before shooting wide after winning the ball high up off Joshua Kimmich.
Alejandro Garnacho: 5. Found it hard to make headway into the Bayern half. Got no change out of Noussair Mazraoui or Dayot Upamecano.
Rasmus Hojlund: 5. Unable to win the physical battle with the Bayern defenders and got hardly any support and little service.
Jonny Evans (on for Harry Maguire 41): 6. Tough game to come into but he did get involved.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (on for Luke Shaw, 46): 6. His turn to look after Leroy Sane but he had enough room to set up Bruno Fernandes for a big chance and a great defensive interception.
Hannibal Mejbri (on for Alejandro Garnacho, 74): 6. Ran around a bit.
Facundo Pellistri (on for Antony, 75): 6. Did not affect the outcome at all.
Kobbie Mainoo (on for Raphael Varane, 80): No time to mark.
TEAM NEWS – Manchester United 0, Bayern Munich 1 (UEFA Champions League Group A)
Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford were ruled out of Manchester United’s crucial final Champions League match with ‘illness’. Sergio Reguilon and Martial were replaced by Raphael Varane and Rasmus Hojlund in the must-win clash against Bayern Munich.
The United bench, although fully staffed with 12 players to choose from, looked painfully thin with several players unavailable.
The Germans named former Manchester United target Harry Kane up front – essentially a full strength team after a 5-1 humbling at Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend.
Eric Choupo-Moting was dropped from that shock defeat and replaced by Jamal Musiala as Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel now demanded a performance from his side at Old Trafford.
GOAL – Manchester United 0, Bayern Munich 1 (UEFA Champions League Group A)
Man Utd 0, Bayern Munich 1: 70. Harry Kane laid on the ball for Kingley Coman to slot home after United’s midfield failed to stop Leon Goretzka from steering the ball past them and into the England captain.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 0, Bayern Munich 1 (UEFA Champions League Group A)
Man Utd: Onana, Dalot, Maguire (Evans 41), Varane (Mainoo 80), Shaw (Wan-Bissaka 46), McTominay, Sofyan Amrabat, Antony (Pellistri 75) , Fernandes (C), Garnacho (Hannibal 74), Hojlund
Man Utd Subs not used: Bayindir, Heaton, Reguilon, Gore, Hugill
Bookings: Antony 53 (foul on Alphonso Davies); Sofyan Amrabat 61 (foul on Jamal Musiala)
Bayern Munich: Neuer (C), Mazraoui, Upamecano, Kim Min-jae, Davies, Kimmich, Goretzka, Coman (Tel 77), Musiala (Muller 67), Sane, Kane
Bayern Munich Subs not used: Peretz, Choupo-Moting, Guerreiro, Laimer, Kratzig, Pavlovic
Booking: Goretzka 88 (trip on Facundo Pellistri)
Goal: Coman 70
Referee: Espen Eskas
Attendance: 73,073