Bayern Munich vs. Manchester City: Champions League Score, Grades and Reaction

Jerome Boateng scored a late winner as Bayern Munich defeated visiting Manchester City 1-0 in both teams' UEFA Champions League Group E opener on Wednesday night at the Allianz Arena.

Boateng struck the winner with a deflected volley in the 90th minute to beat his former team and give Bayern victory in the first meeting of Group E's two heavyweights. Until that point, Manchester City's Joe Hart had starred in goal, making a string of fine saves to deny the Germans and keep his side in the match.

Wednesday's match was the first in what promises to be a difficult run in Group E for both sides. Both Bayern and City won their respective league titles last season and are expected to advance to the knockout stage. Yet both will also face stiff tests from Roma, who finished second in Serie A last term, and perhaps from Russian champions CSKA Moscow.

Bayern will travel to CSKA on Matchday 2, while Manchester City host Roma. In Wednesday's other Group E match, Roma routed CSKA 5-1 at the Stadio Olimpico.

Bayern started brightly and nearly took the lead with less than a minute on the clock. The hosts tore down the pitch quickly through Mario Gotze, who passed to Robert Lewandowski near the edge of the box. Lewandowski flicked on to Thomas Muller, who rounded City goalkeeper Joe Hart before shooting into the side netting.

It was an early let-off for City, who enjoyed precious little time on the ball early in the match as Bayern pressed and harried at every opportunity. But the visitors settled around the 10-minute mark and managed a first shot on target in the 13th minute through Edin Dzeko.

Muller had another big chance in the 19th minute after being picked out by Juan Bernat's cross from the right. This time, the German forward directed a header on target, but Hart made a fine save to keep his side level. Bayern worked the ensuing corner to Boateng, who poked a shot well over the bar.

Kerstin Joensson/Associated Press

It was Muller's turn to play provider in the 21st minute, crossing from the right for Gotze. Gotze redirected an effort on goal, with the ball taking a deflection off of Vincent Kompany's arm. Hart saved again, and Bayern's appeals for a penalty were turned down.

Bayern kept up the pressure before half-time, David Alaba forcing Hart into another save in the 32nd minute with a rasping shot from the edge of the box. Three minutes later, Alaba played in Lewandowski, who shot into the side netting after trying to round Hart at a tight angle on the left.

City created chances of their own, coming close in the 22nd minute via Dzeko's curler that flew narrowly wide of the far post. Five minutes before half-time, Bacary Sagna headed on target from a corner, but Manuel Neuer punched clear as the match headed into the break scoreless.

The first opening of the second half fell to Bayern captain Philipp Lahm, who dragged a low shot wide of the post in the 52nd minute. Three minutes later, Hart saved again from Gotze's deflected volley after City failed to clear their box.

Hart had to be alert again in the 60th minute, tipping away an initial cross before pushing Bernat's cross-shot over the bar. From the ensuing corner, Bayern appealed for a penalty again after the ball touched Fernandinho's hand in the box. But the referee waved play on and Bayern remained frustrated.

The hosts almost caught a break in the 71st minute as Hart spilled a long-distance shot from Rafinha. Muller latched onto the rebound but shot straight at Hart, though the Bayern man had already been ruled offside regardless.

Kerstin Joensson/Associated Press

Bayern appealed for a penalty again in the 80th minute after Arjen Robben—who had entered the match as a substitute for Muller only minutes earlier—went to ground in the box under a challenge from Fernandinho. Again the referee waved play on despite strong appeals from the home team.

City had a penalty appeal of their own three minutes later as David Silva tumbled in the box following Mehdi Benatia's challenge. Replays suggested that the Bayern man had made contact, but this time City were left disappointed by the referee's decision to allow play to continue.

Time was running out on both teams, but Bayern nearly found the breakthrough two minutes from time as Boateng hit a powerful, swerving shot that seemed destined for the bottom corner. But Hart saved again, pushing the ball away at full stretch to keep City level.

It was only a momentary let-off, though. In the 90th minute, Bayern finally made the breakthrough. City were unable to clear their box following a Lahm corner, with the ball eventually falling to Boateng on the left. From there, the defender hit a deflected shot past Hart to put his side ahead.

It was a harsh blow for City, who had held out admirably for 90 minutes. The visitors nearly grabbed an equaliser in stoppage time, but Sergio Aguero's shot rolled off target.

Grades

Joe Hart, Manchester City: A

Hart made a string of top-shelf saves to keep his side level in both halves, and it was almost fitting that only a deflected strike would beat him. If not for Hart's fine goalkeeping, Bayern might have been out of sight by half-time.

Jerome Boateng, Bayern Munich: A

In addition to scoring the winner, Boateng anchored Bayern's defence as the middle man in a three-man back line. As UEFA.com's Andy James noted, Boateng has developed into a world-class defender in Bavaria:

Thomas Muller: Bayern Munich: C+

Muller will be unhappy with the lack of goals, but his overall performance was far from poor.

With Lewandowski and Gotze both quiet, Muller represented Bayern's primary attacking threat for much of the match until he was withdrawn in the 76th minute. Thanks to his excellent off-the-ball movement, the German World Cup winner frequently put himself in position to score. 

On this night, though, his finishing simply wasn't good enough to beat Hart.

Post-Match Reaction