Bayern Munich’s Portuguese Raphael Guerreiro (L) celebrates a goal with his teammates during the UEFA Champions League match between Bayern Munich and Dinamo Zagreb in Munich, Germany. EFE/EPA/ANNA SZILAGYI
Berlin, Sep 17 (EFE).- Bayern Munich crushed Dinamo Zagreb with a 9-2 rout to begin their Champions League campaign this season in what was a big night for English striker Harry Kane, who scored four goals, three of them from penalties.
The team coached by Belgian Vincent Kompany, who was making his debut as coach of the top continental competition, had gone 40 games without losing in the group stage and did not spoil their streak in the debut of the new format of the competition.
With Portuguese Raphaël Guerreiro as the main new addition to the starting eleven, who was in top form throughout the match, the Bavarian side did not mince words and launched an all-out offensive from the opening whistle.
Established from the start in the opponent’s half, with the Croatian block closed in to resist the Bavarian attacks, Bayern imposed an incontestable dominance.
With Musiala and Olise everywhere, the combinations and chances kept coming and it was only a matter of time before they opened the door to the Balkans, although the first goal came in the most bizarre way.
An attack that had ended with a triangle between Upamecano, Musiala and Gnabry, who then fired home, was ruled out for offside, but Spanish referee Martínez Munuera, at the request of the VAR, intervened to award a penalty on Pavlovic committed by the Frenchman Pierre-Gabiel in the previous move. Harry Kane did not forgive.
With the goal, the six-time European champions lowered the pace of the match. They dedicated themselves to combining in midfield to exhaust the batteries of the Croatian defence and from a long possession the second goal was born. A cross from the left by Gnabry was re-directed with his chest in an exquisite way by Musiala, only for Guerreiro to enter and hit an imperial volley from outside the area that pierced the net.
The game was going according to Bayern’s wishes and just five minutes later, another ball from the left, this time by Kimmich, ended with a header from Olise to make it three.
The only bad news for the German team at half-time was the injury to captain Manuel Neuer, who was involved in a collision while running out to challenge for the ball and which forced substitute goalkeeper Sven Ulreich to come on to the pitch.
The first action in which he participated could not have been more unfortunate. A cross from Pierre-Gabriel three minutes in was extended by Pjaca for Petkovic, the Croatian as astute as Upamecano was ineffective, to shoot at ground level.
And then, Misic’s pass behind the entire Bayern defence was taken advantage of by Ogiwara to finish alone in front of the goalkeeper, petrified by the confusion.
From being dead to being reborn in a miraculous way, leaving the locals shocked. The Croatian team even had the chance to equalise moments later, with a whiplash from Pjaza that forced Ulreich to use his reflexes.
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane celebrates the 1-0 lead during the UEFA Champions League match between Bayern Munich and Dinamo Zagreb in Munich, Germany. EFE/EPA/ANNA SZILAGYI
However, Dynamo failed to equalise and Bayern’s response was merciless. A shot from the edge of the area, completely unmarked by Kimmich, was repelled by Nevistic, whose rebound was saved by Kane in an empty net.
And a few moments later, and another goal from Kane from a rebound but disallowed for illegal position in between, a cross from Alphonso Davies was extended by the English striker, who knows if with poor control, so that Olise broke the Balkan goalkeeper and scored the fifth local goal.
Bayern Munich were once again three goals ahead and were on the receiving end of their weak opponents. A corner was headed in by defender Dier and the ball hit Misic’s hand. VAR again, penalty again and Kane again. Hat trick.
And that was not all. Five minutes later, the Spanish referee awarded the third penalty of the match after a challenge in the area on Alphonso Davies. Once again, the British striker scored a goal and scored four goals, leaving Dynamo completely in stitches.
Leroy Sané, who was making his season debut after being out injured for two months, and Goretzka, who had been almost discredited since the start of the season, capped a night like no other for Bayern since the historic 2-8 win over Barcelona in the quarter-finals in Lisbon in 2020.
With this overwhelming victory, the German team begins a journey that will try to end at the Allianz Arena on May 31, in an attempt to win the seventh title in its history in the top continental competition. Given what was seen in the opening match, it is clear that it wants it.
– Technical sheet:
9 – Bayern Múnich: Neuer (Ulreich, m. 46); Kimmich, Upamecano, Kim Min-jae (Dier, m. 68), Davies; Pavlovic, Warrior (Goretzka, m. 81), Olise (Sané, m. 68), Musiala (Müller, m. 68), Gnabry; y Kane
2 – Dinamo Zagreb: Nevistic; Ristovski, Theophile-Catherine, Mmaee, Pierre-Gabriel (Hoxha, m.73); Misic, Rog (Stojkovic, m. 46), Pjaca (Kulenovic, m.61), Baturina (Ademi, m.78), Ogiwara (Spikic, m.73); y Petkovic
Goals: 1-0, m.19: Kane, from the penalty spot; 2-0, m. 33: Warrior; 3-0, m.38: Olise; 3-1, m.48: Petkovic; 3-2, m.50: Ogiwara; 4-2, p. 57: Kane; 5-2, m.61: Olize; 6-2, p. 73: Kane, from penalties; 7-2, p. 78: Kane, from penalties; 8-2, p. 85: Sané; 9-2, m.92: Goretzka.
Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera (Spain). He cautioned Ristovski, from Dinamo.
Incidents: Match corresponding to the first day of the Champions League played at the Allianz Arena in front of approximately 75,000 spectators.
Juan Manuel Sanchez
EFE
