After a poor start in 2023/2024, the Red Devils thought that they can finally get their season up and running via the UEFA Champions League last night, but instead Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United were defeated by their opponents in three consecutives matches in all competitions, this time in the hands of defending German Bundesliga 1 champions Bayern Munich. The match saw the Thomas Tuchel-less Bavarians outclassed the Red Devils at their home stadium of Allianz Arena and Manchester United’s last summer transfer window target Harry Kane, who is now a Bayern Munich player, was on the scoresheet for his new club.
Tuchel Suspended for Bayern Munich vs. Manchester United
A notable absentee for the home side against the Red Devils was not any players from the squad but 50-year-old head coach Thomas Tuchel, who was serving his suspension for last season’s quarterfinal red card against the eventual champions Manchester City in this match. Nevertheless, Tuchel’s absence did not prevent Zsolt Lőw and Anthony Barry from leading the team to subdue Manchester United at home.
Both set of coaching staff fielded a 4-2-3-1 in this match, with the home side looking like a much more superior side due to the many injuries sustained and unavailable players at the Red Devils, including the likes of centre-back Raphaël Varane, left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, midfielders Sofyan Amrabat and Mason Mount, as well as right-wingers Sancho and Antony.
In the Group F and Group of Death opener, last season’s French Ligue 1 winners Paris Saint-Germain overcame Bayern’s rivals Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at home. We have all the information of the game covered in this article, check it out now!
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Goal Spree in the Second Half
Bayern Munich got off to a great start against the Red Devils in the opening period, when former Manchester City winger Leroy Sané drew the first blood for the home team. The 27-year-old rejuvenated attacker had to thank Manchester United’s goalkeeper André Onana for his fourth goal of the season since the Cameroonian was unable to save the German’s tame shot just outside the box. The goal kickstarted a scoring spree in the match, and another former former Premier League player Serge Gnabry inflicted more pain to the visitors, when he converted Jamal Musiala’s pass after the latter’s fantastic run to the box past Onana.
In the second half, new signing Rasmus Højlund momentarily restored the Red Devils’ hopes in the match with a 49th-minute strike that crept into 35-year-old Sven Ulreich’s goal, but the young Danish’s and Manchester United’s joys were cut shot as Kane restored Bayern Munich’s two-goal cushion just four minutes later. The England captain‘s low and decent strike to his usual spot kick choice of the left side of the goal meant there was nothing Onana could do despite his right guess.
The home side continued to knock the door for more humiliations over the Red Devils and came close to do so several times in the game. Nonetheless, both team went back and forth in the span of eight minutes during the final stretch of the match, with Brazilian central defensive midfielder Casemiro scoring a brace in close range and 18-year-old substitute Mathys Tel ensuring the home side’s victory over the Red Devils in this 2023/2024 UEFA Champions League Group A opener. The 4-3 win was Bayern’s fifth in 12 games over United in the rich rivalry history between the two European football powerhouses.
No better way to start our @ChampionsLeague campaign at home 🙌 #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/kYeMuhkbAK
— Harry Kane (@HKane) September 20, 2023
Onana: “I Let the Team Down.”
The 27-year-old shot stopper Onana was devastated by the loss and took full blame for allowing Sané’s goal halt Manchester United’s great start to this Champions League clash. His response reads “We started very well and after my mistake we lost control of the game. It’s a difficult situation for me, I let the team down. It’s because of me we didn’t win this game. We have to move on, it’s the life of the goalkeeper. They hadn’t created any chances, their first shot on target I made the mistake and the team went down.”
Onana continued to add: “We fought until the end but I have to recognise that we didn’t win because of me. I still have a lot to prove [to the fans]. My start hasn’t been so good, not how I wanted. It’s difficult. It was an opportunity to bounce back and yeah, it’s tough, a tough time and we have to be together and learn from our mistakes. It’s my responsibility, because of me we didn’t win and I have to learn from it. I have a lot to prove, because to be honest my start at Man United is not so good. It was me who let the team down.”
The Cameroonian started all six games in all competitions for Manchester United thus far this season, and had already conceded 14 goals during the period, leading many to question ten Hag’s decision to retract the signed contract extension given to long-time no. 1 of the Red Devils David de Gea last season and sign Onana this summer to guard the goal for Manchester United this year.
Kane Was Eager to Haunt the Red Devils
Another big question threw to Manchester United’s gaffer ten Hag during the newly concluded transfer window was the transfer of 20-year-old Danish striker Højlund with a hefty price tag instead of a deal with an English Premier League-proven forward like Harry Kane. The 53-year-old’s ultimate move to forgo a chance of earning the England captain’s signature was one of the reasons why the Red Devils succumbed to the 33-time German champions in this 2023/2024 UEFA Champions League Group A fixture.
Kane’s penalty against Manchester United was his fifth goal in six games for Bayern Munich while Manchester United had only managed to score six goals in five matches in the Premier League season thus far. The former’s goal contributions of five goals and two assists also squashed away any doubts that he would not fit into Tuchel’s German club football system for Bayern at the age of 30.
The Kane-led Bayern Munich face off VfL Bochum 1848 for a German Bundesliga 1 home game this Saturday while the Red Devils, who are on a three-game losing streak in all competitions now, will be desperate to get back to winning ways against Burnley in the Premier League this weekend.
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