GERMAN giants, Bayern Munich defeated English side Manchester United 4-3 in a goals-laden UEFA Champions League (UCL) opener in Wednesday evening.
Bayern, at home in the Allianz Arena, looked convincing from the start, even though the scoreline says otherwise.
The early exchanges saw lots of fouls as United looked to unsettle Thomas Tuchel’s side.
The opening goal for the hosts soon came in the 28th minute when Leroy Sane curled a left footed shot past Onana in goal for United.
The Hosts were on the ascendency and made it 2-0 four minutes later, with Jamal Musiala working the ball to Serge Gnabry to tuck home.
New signing, Rasmus Holjmund, had a chance for the visitors in the 37th minute but scoffed his header wide.
The first half ended 2-0, the host in intimidating mood on the night.
Man Utd seemed hungry to get back in the game soon after the restart and pulled a goal back in the 49th minute through Holjmund, with Rashford teeing him up. 2-1 and game on.
The Manchester club saw their hopes dashed two minutes later when Bayern were awarded a penalty via the intervention of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Former Tottenham Hotspur striker, Harry Kane, stepped up to score the spot kick, making it 3-1 to the hosts.
The Hosts managed the game pretty well and looked comfortable until tempers flared in the 62nd minute, the referee brandishing yellow cards to both Goretzka of Bayern and Martinez of United.
Man Utd goalie, Onana made a couple of saves to keep Bayern at bay and give his side a glimmer of hope in the contest.
That hope was rekindled when Casemiro struck in the 88th minute to pull one back for United and give Coach, Erik Ten Hag hope of a comeback.
That hope was extinguished by a Mathys Tel goal in the 2nd minute of stoppage time, Thomas Muller hitting the post a minute earlier.
4-2 the scores stood going into the final embers of the game until Casemiro, ince again, pulld one back from the visitors, this time, through a header.
The Video Assistant Referee ensured the goal stood, but there was little time left for United to stage a comeback as the Referee blew the final whistle.
4-3 the contest ended, with both teams putting up a proper show for the neutrals.