Are you still not in a crisis, Erik? Bayern breeze past terrible United in a seven-goal UCL exhibition

There have been numerous problems in the Bayern camp over the past year, but even a broken Bayern is currently far too strong for the mess that is Manchester United. The Bavarians outclassed the English team in their blockbuster Champions League fixture and only gave the old rivals five minutes of home midway through the game before sealing the points.

Burdened with heavy pressure, in-house quarrelling and poor performances of late, United travelled to Munich at the worst possible time. In the week leading up to this game, Manchester United’s boss, Erik Ten Hag, tried hard to convince the public that his team and the club weren’t going through a crisis. Will he still claim the same after another poor display? The scoreline might fool you, but don’t let that happen – Manchester United deserved nothing tonight.

For what it’s worth — and it isn’t much — United did start brightly at the Allianz Arena. In the opening 20 minutes, the visitors looked like the sharper side. Sadly for Ten Hag, the remaining 70 minutes belonged to Bayern. Sane cut in from the right, executed a one-two with Harry Kane and unleashed a first-time shot from 20 metres. It was a low effort directly at Andre Onana. The Cameroon international should have saved it easily, but incredibly, the United keeper allowed the ball to slip past him.

Things got from bad to worse for United just four minutes later. Jamal Musiala ran down the left, cut inside Diogo Dalot, and pulled the ball back for Serge Gnabry, who slotted the ball into the far bottom corner. Onana was rooted to the spot as the former Arsenal player received congratulations from his teammates.

United had a nice opportunity to get back into the game before the break. Marcus Rashford and Sergio Reguilon engaged in a series of quick passes. The former Tottenham man advanced into the box and delivered a low cross across the six-yard box, but there were no United players there to meet it. Frustration was quite notably creeping in among the Red Devils.

The visitors make a spectacle out of an on-pitch huddle, trying to show their determination to get back into the game. And they did look well on course to do it, especially when Rasmus Hojlund finished from a Rashford pass to half the deficit. It wasn’t a clean shot; it took a deflection off a defender, but the Dane didn’t care. Less than five minutes after the restart, the English team looked alive and kicking again.

Yet again, Ten Hag’s players found a way to shoot themselves in the foot. Dayot Upamecano headed downwards from a Bayern corner, but the ball was halted by Christian Eriksen’s outstretched arm. After a VAR review, the decision was clear – it was a penalty. And we all know who takes the spot-kicks. Harry Kane dispatched an emphatic kick past Onana to make it 3-1 and undo all the good United have done.

There was still time for both teams to strike a blow, with Ten Hag again cruelly handed a couple of minutes of false hope.

Bavarians had chances to extend the lead further, but it was United who managed to set up a nervy ending. After his initial attempt had been blocked, Casemiro poked the ball into the net while lying on the ground. There were just four or five minutes left, but United couldn’t get what would have been a dramatic equaliser. Deep in added time, Mathys Tel sealed the win with a terrific volley past Onana.

Casemiro increased his goal tally with virtually the last kick of the game, heading in from a Bruno Fernandes free kick. However, it was far too late.

Crisis yet?

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 1

Tuesday

Milan – Newcastle 0-0

Young Boys – RB Leipzig 1-3 (1-1)

/Elia 33 – Simakan 3, Xaver 73, Sesko 92/

Feyenoord – Celtic 2-0 (1-0)

/Stengs 45, Jahanbakhsh 76/

Lazio – Atl.Madrid 1-1 (0-1)

/Provedel 90+5 -Barrios 29/

PSG – Dortmund 2-0 (0-0)

/Mbappe 49 pen, Hakimi 58/

Man.City – Crvena Zvezda 3-1 (0-1)

/Alvarez 46, 60, Rodri 73 – Bukari 45/

Barcelona – Antwerp 5-0 (3-0)

/Felix 11, 66, Lewandowski 19, Battaile 26 og, Gavi 54/

Shakhtar – Porto 1-3 (1-3)

/Kelsy 13 – Galeno 8, 15, Taremi 29/

Wednesday

Galatasaray – Copenhagen 2-2 (0-1)

/Boey 86, Tete 88 – Elyounoussi 35, Goncalves 58/

Real Madrid – Union Berlin 1-0 (0-0)

/Bellingham 90+4/

Bayern Munich – Man Utd 4-3 (2-0)

/Sane 28, Gnabry 32, Kane 53 pen, Tel 90+1 – Hojlund 49, Casemiro 88, 90+5/

Arsenal – PSV 4-0 (3-0)

/Saka 8, Trossard 20, Jesus 38, Odegaard 70/

Sevilla – Lens 1-1 (1-1)

/Ocampos 9 – Fulgini 24/

Braga – Napoli 1-2 (0-1)

/Bruma 84 – Di Lorenzo 45+1, Niakate 88 og/

Benfica – Salzburg 0-2 (0-1)

/Simic 15 pen, Gloukh 51/

Sociedad – Inter 1-1 (1-0)

/Mendez 4 – Martinez 87/