Bayern Munich scored twice in four minutes in the first half to beat struggling Manchester United 4-3 on Wednesday and get off to a winning start in Champions League Group A.
Despite some shoddy defending at times, the hosts came out on top in a seven-goal blitz, with three of the goals coming in the closing few minutes.
Goals from Leroy Sané and Serge Gnabry in the 28th and 32nd minutes placed the hosts solidly in control, with injury-plagued United drawing a goal back in the 49th through Rasmus Hojlund’s deflected strike.
A penalty awarded to Harry Kane for a handball by Christian Eriksen four minutes later restored Bayern’s two-goal lead before the game concluded with a flurry of late goals.
Casemiro scored from close range in the 88th minute, but Bayern replacement Mathys Tel scored again in stoppage time before Casemiro headed in the game’s last goal.
United, who had previously lost 3-1 to both Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal, have now surrendered three goals or more in three straight games for the first time since December 1978.
The visitors had begun strongly, with Eriksen coming agonizingly close in the fourth minute, only to have his effort saved by Bayern keeper Sven Ulreich.
Bayern took the lead thanks to a blunder by United goalkeeper André Onana, who misjudged Sane’s poor attempt and let it slide past him and into the net.
Bayern scored again with Jamal Musiala setting up Gnabry after a great solo run, with Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel serving a one-match ban from last season and assistant Zsolt Loew on the bench.
Hojlund’s deflected effort four minutes after the restart following a quick United passing move gave them some hope but Bayern quickly extinguished it in the 53rd with Kane’s penalty.
“Disappointed because we should stay in the game,” said United coach Erik ten Hag. “If you score three goals at Bayern Munich you have to take a point.
“We are in a period, a lot is going against us. We have to make our own luck. We’ve played great teams in the last three games.”
Casemiro scored their third goal in stoppage time, seconds after Bayern replacement Tel had smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
The hosts, who are undefeated in their past 28 Champions League group stage home meetings, also struck the crossbar in the second half via Sane and Thomas Müller.
