Negredo 79' Ribery 7', Muller 56', Robben 59'
Professor Pep takes Manuel's minnows to school.
Manchester City's attractive European home record was dealt a muscular blow last night as Bayern Munich ran rampant at the Etihad Stadium.
It took only seven minutes for the European Champions to commence the Manchester mauling when European Player of the Year Franck Ribery struck from range to beat a flapping Joe Hart at the near post. The England stopper will be scratching his Head and shrugging his Shoulders when he watches the replay.
Forty-five agonising minutes passed and a relatively silent City crowd were treated to a fifteen minute break from the Bavarian onslaught. Guardiola's side went into the break having had a remarkable 75% of the ball and the gulf in class between Schweinsteiger and Fernandinho couldn't have been any more transparent.
Franck Ribery opens the scoring at the Etihad Stadium last night.
Manuel Pellegrini had been tactically outmaneuvered and his side were salivating for a change in formation to combat Bayern's incessant attack. It never came.
Although the blues began the half buoyant and indubitably relieved at the scoreline, they could only hold onto the ball for five minutes before the brilliant Bavarians began to weave in and out of City's anonymous midfield like it wasn't there.
A mere eleven minutes passed until the visitors seized a deserved second. Brazilian centre-back Dante angled an exquisite forty yard ball into Thomas Muller who rounded Hart with ease. Gael Clichy, along with the 47,000 spectators, statically watched on in awe.
Thomas Muller scores Bayern's second of the evening.
The blues were being carved open like a traditional German suckling pig and Pep's platoon didn't look like stopping there.
Three minutes later, Dutch winger Arjen Robben sped past Matija Nastasic to finish past Joe Hart. The goal, once again at the near post, should definitely have been handled by the England No.1. With his head in his hands, Joe knew his night could not get any worse.
Arjen Robben makes it three.
It was turning into a long lesson for the home side and the blues were eager to hear the home time bell.
The third goal finally kicked Manuel Pellegrini into life and the addition of James Milner, Alvaro Negredo and David Silva brought some energy into the team. Milner forced Manuel Neuer into his first save of the night whilst Silva and Negredo linked together in style. Their inclusion in the starting line-up wouldn't have changed the result, but it would have definitely changed the performance.
With eleven minutes left to play, Alvaro Negredo span Jerome Boateng to finish a delicious curling shot into the far corner of Neuer's net. A great goal, but a consolation nonetheless. A minute later, former City defender Jerome Boateng was handed a straight red card for hauling down Yaya Toure on the edge of the box. Silva struck the bar from the resulting free kick.
Jerome Boateng receives a red card in the 80th minute.
Lessons will have been learned from last night. The blues were outpaced, outfought and outclassed by a side that have a genuine chance of being the first team to ever retain the Champions League trophy. Pep Guardiola has evidently stamped his tika-taka style of play on the Germans and no one can deny that it has worked magnificently.
Alvaro Negredo has done enough now to convince Pellegrini that he is a better option than the ineffective Edin Dzeko and the return of David Silva is something every Manchester City fan will relish.
Two losses in two games brings a cause for worry, but Manchester witnessed a master class last night.
Next up it's Everton and it's a good job we have a terrific record against them...
Player Ratings
Joe Hart 4
Poor. Sparked a media frenzy this morning with two errors that allowed both Robben and Ribery to score. Not his fault for the loss, but he needs to do better.
Micah Richards 6
Micah Richards 6
His strength showed and he did his best to get forward, but the more defensive minded Pablo Zabaleta may have dealt with Ribery a little better.
Matija Nastasic 5A lack of experience meant the young Serbian struggled. Left for dead by Robben for Bayern's third.
Vincent Kompany 5
His influence was anonymous and he struggled as much as the rest of the squad did.
Gael Clichy 4
He's fast, but Robben made him look like a pensioner. Stood and watched for Muller's goal.
Jesus Navas 5.5
His effort was impeccable but his delivery left a lot to be desired.
Fernandinho 5Couldn't build on his impressive performance at Villa and couldn't live up to the task of manning Bayern's brilliant midfield.
Yaya Toure 4
Nowhere to be seen in a game that cried out for his influence.
Samir Nasri 4Couldn't influence the game in any way as he wasn't able to touch the ball.
Edin Dzeko 4Did nothing.
Sergio Aguero 4Lacked service but the spark wasn't there.
