Bayern keep up perfect start to Champions League in Turkey, Inter down Salzburg
The two sets of players were greeted by a raucous atmosphere at Rams Park, where the intensity in the stands was matched by a frantic start on the pitch.
The hosts threatened in the opening stages through Mauro Icardi and Kerem Akturkoglu, but it was Bayern who drew first blood when an incisive counter-attack culminated in Kingsley Coman driving the ball into the bottom corner to open his European account for the season.
After falling behind, the Turkish champions went close to producing an immediate response through Akturkoglu, whose acrobatic volley drew a superb diving stop from Sven Ulreich.
Galatasaray’s relentless pressure eventually forced Bayern into a costly mistake, as Joshua Kimmich slid in to bring Icardi down in the box. The Argentine picked himself off the floor and executed an ice-cool panenka to level the scoreline from the penalty spot.
With momentum firmly in their favour, Galatasaray would have been disappointed to miss out on a half-time lead after Akturkoglu was denied by the onrushing Ulreich, before Icardi sent an effort agonisingly wide in first-half stoppage time.
The energetic hosts continued to knock on the door after the restart, as Bayern struggled to move through the gears. Lucas Torreira was presented with the first two meaningful chances of the second period, but the former Arsenal midfielder failed to hit the target on both occasions.
As the contest moved past the hour mark, the Bavarians started to wrestle back control of the contest, with Galatasaray showing signs of tiring.
Fernando Muslera was on hand to keep Leroy Sane’s left-foot strike at bay, but there was nothing the goalkeeper could do to prevent Harry Kane from restoring Bayern’s advantage in the 73rd minute. The England captain saw his initial flick blocked by Boey before he poked home at the second time of asking.
Clearly still feeling as though he had more work to do at a tense Rams Park, Kane quickly turned provider, teeing up Musiala to fire in a third that wrapped up yet another group-stage victory for Bayern.
Going into the evening’s games, five points stand between Bayern and their vanquished opponents, as their relentless consistency in progressing from the UCL group stage looks to continue unabated.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Harry Kane (Bayern)
Inter go top of Group D
Inter moved to the top of Group D, at least for the time being, with a 2-1 win over visiting Salzburg.
Goals from Alexis Sanchez and Hakan Calhanoglu either side of an Oscar Gloukh goal for Salzburg were enough for the Milan side.
See all the stats and read a full match report here.
