European champions Bayern Munich delivered a footballing masterclass as they powered to a convincing 3-1 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

The formidable attacking trio of Franck Ribery, Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben all struck as City were completely outplayed in Champions League Group D, although they also contributed to their own downfall.
Errors from goalkeeper Joe Hart and the defence proved costly but the hosts at least finished strongly as Alvaro Negredo replied and Bayern had former City defender Jerome Boateng sent off.
The result lifted Bayern clear at the top of the group and, even after just two games, probably left City in a battle for second place with their next opponents CSKA Moscow.
The overwhelming feeling was that a City side that thrashed Manchester United just 10 days previously were taught a footballing lesson.
Manuel Pellegrini was appointed by City in the summer in expectation he could improve the club’s standing in Europe but this was clear indication of the scale of the task ahead.
Yet as brilliant as the Germans were, the defence and Hart had a harrowing time.
Hart was at fault for Bayern’s opener and was beaten too easily for the third goal, while Gael Clichy was the chief culprit for the second.
City seemed intent on making a lively start but it soon became apparent that Bayern had the class to boss the game.
They carved out an early opening as David Alaba was given room to cross but Robben was unable to direct a header on target.
City showed some promise as Jesus Navas crossed for Micah Richards but the defender, surprisingly recalled in place of Pablo Zabaleta for the fixture, headed at Manuel Neuer.
Bayern firmly took control of the match in the seventh minute as Ribery cut in from the left and unleashed a low swerving shot from the edge of the area which Hart failed to deal with.
It was powerful strike but after a relatively serene spell for club and country for Hart – keeping five successive clean sheets in August and September – it was a mistake that will provide untimely ammunition to critics ahead of England’s climactic World Cup qualifiers.
Bayern oozed class thereafter, barely giving City a kick as they dominated possession and cut their way through the hosts with quick and incisive passes.
Remarkably, it yielded few clear-cut chances in the first half but Hart punched unconvincingly from an Alaba cross and Toni Kroos had a long-range shot deflected narrowly wide.
Robben picked up possession on the edge of the area and drove across goal but Muller was unable to turn in.
Alaba then shot at Hart and the rebound off Matija Nastasic also needed to be dealt with by the keeper but City could consider themselves fortunate to reach the interval 1-0 down.
Bayern stepped up the pace after the break and Robben had a shot deflected wide from the edge of the area after more neat interplay.
City had also looked more determined after the resumption but their renewed spirit was killed off as Dante picked out Muller with a crossfield pass.
The City defence were simply caught flat-footed and Clichy stopped in expectation of an offside flag that never came, exposing Hart.
Muller seized the opportunity and rounded Hart to double the lead.
Just three minutes later the task was put completely beyond City.
Fernandinho lost the ball in midfield and Robben charged down the right, bypassing Clichy and wrong-footing Nastasic before beating Hart at his near post.
Muller hit the post as Bayern threatened more but City finally found some bite late on.
James Milner had a shot tipped over and fellow substitute Negredo pulled one back with a powerful shot off the post 11 minutes from time.
Boateng was shown a straight red card after halting a Yaya Toure burst on the edge of the area and David Silva curled the resulting free-kick against the bar.
Negredo also headed wide as City gave themselves some encouragement for the remainder of the campaign.

According to Foxsports

The German turned in an Aaron Ramsey cross before laying on a goal for Olivier Giroud as an early Gunners surge swept aside their fancied Italian opponents.

Mesut Ozil scored his first goal for Arsenal as an early onslaught saw off a surprisingly sloppy Napoli at the Emirates Stadium.

In a pulsating start, he German caressed home an Aaron Ramsey cross on eight minutes, having been found unmarked by the Welshman on the edge of the penalty area.

Ozil then capitalised on some slack Napoli defending from their own throw-in by surging to the byeline and squaring for Olivier Giroud to double the Gunners’ lead, and the advantage proved decisive.

Arsene Wenger – celebrating 17 years in charge of Arsenal – welcomed back Rosicky from a thigh injury to replace Serge Gnabry, while Mikel Arteta came in as Jack Wilshere was rested.

Gonzalo Higuain – who was a transfer-window target for Wenger’s side – was unable to shake off a calf injury in time to feature for Napoli.

Arsenal were at their free-flowing best right from the off and were soon two goals ahead.

The first came in just the eighth minute when Ramsey stormed down the right-hand side and cut back for Ozil on the edge of the box and the German hit a sublime first-time shot that nestled in the corner.

And the home fans celebrated a second after quarter of an hour. Giroud flicked to Ozil in the box and he stormed to the byline before laying back for the Frenchman to tap home from close range.

Napoli almost responded when Miguel Britos made a late run into the box from a Lorenzo Insigne corner and headed wide when unmarked.

Arsenal continued to dominate with Ozil and Ramsey producing a midfield masterclass. The latter twice saw shots blocked in the area by Raul Albiol.

The home side’s lead was almost extended immediately after the restart when Giroud raced clear on the right and fed into the path of Rosicky six yards from goal, but he failed to make good contact when under pressure from Britos.

Napoli tried to come back into the contest and Insigne twice saw efforts go just wide, while Gokhan Inler blazed harmlessly over with 20 minutes remaining.

Laurent Koscielny then had a wonderful opportunity to add a third when he met Arteta’s flick but from point-blank range he fired straight at Pepe Reina.

But Koscielny’s miss made no difference to the final score as Arsenal moved to the top of the group. Their next Champions League fixture is at home to Borussia Dortmund on October 22.

According to Goal

Neil Lennon’s men slipped to Champions League defeat thanks to a late goal from the former Arsenal captain after Scott Brown had been sent off for kicking out at Neymar.

A second-half header from Cesc Fabregas gave Barcelona a 1-0 victory in a fiery Champions League clash against 10-man Celtic on Tuesday.

Fabregas found the net 14 minutes from time in the Group H encounter as the Liga champions took advantage after Scott Brown had been sent off in controversial circumstances just before the hour mark.

Celtic – who overcame Barcelona 2-1 in last season’s competition – created the better chances for much of the encounter, but they were left to rue Brown’s dismissal, which came following a clash with Neymar.

They were ultimately made to pay as former Arsenal man Fabregas struck to end their hopes of a repeat of last year’s heroics.

Celtic made just one change to the side that beat Kilmarnock 5-2 at the weekend, midfielder Mikael Lustig coming in for Teemu Pukki.

The visitors, meanwhile, had to cope without talisman Lionel Messi, who missed out due to a hamstring injury, with Neymar replacing him at the head of the attack. Xavi came back into the side in place of Alexis Sanchez.

Barcelona dictated possession in the early stages, but it was Celtic who created the game’s first chance, Georgios Samaras forcing a near-post save from Victor Valdes after being played through by Anthony Stokes.

Despite their dominance, it took Barca 16 minutes to craft their first opportunity as Neymar fired wide from range.

Andres Iniesta and Adriano then both saw chances go begging, although Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster still had little to do in the first half as Gerardo Martino’s men laboured to try and find a way through.

However, the Catalan club went close to taking the lead five minutes before the break when Neymar turned Dani Alves’ right-wing cross narrowly wide of the post.

The hosts made the better start to the second half as they pushed to try and take an unlikely lead, but their hopes were dealt a huge blow when midfielder Brown was sent off in the 59th minute for appearing to kick Neymar in the back after the 28-year-old had brought down the Brazilian following his surging run into the Celtic half.

Barcelona unsurprisingly seized control once again from there as they looked to make their numerical advantage count.

Still, Celtic defended resolutely, with Barca reduced to speculative efforts from Marc Bartra and Fabregas.

Neil Lennon’s men did look dangerous on the break despite Brown’s dismissal and James Forrest forced a fine diving save from Valdes after 73 minutes before Charlie Mulgrew headed wide from the resulting corner.

But the hosts’ strong resistance was finally broken by a superb Barcelona counter-attack a few moments later as Fabregas met substitute Alexis’ pin-point cross with an excellent header that looped beyond Forster and into the net.

Forster produced a fine double save to deny Neymar and Alexis in quick succession, before again preventing Neymar from adding a second, as one proved to be enough for Martino’s men.

According to Goal

The Brazilian netted twice either side of a Daniel Georgievski own goal as Jose Mourinho secured his first European win since returning to Stamford Bridge with some ease.

Chelsea got off the mark in this season’s Champions League with a comfortable 4-0 win over Steaua Bucharest in Romania on Tuesday.

Ramires gave Jose Mourinho’s side the lead after 19 minutes before Daniel Georgievski’s own goal just before half-time gave them breathing space.

The Brazilian then netted his second 10 minutes into the second period before Frank Lampard rounded off the scoring in the final minute to give Chelsea their first points in Group E

Steaua coach Laurentiu Reghecampf made just one change from Saturday’s 3-0 win over Poli Timisoara, with Adrian Popa replacing Gabriel Iancu.

Meanwhile, Mourinho made two alterations to the side that drew 1-1 with Tottenham as Juan Mata and Andre Schurrle came in for John Obi Mikel and Eden Hazard.

The two replacements combined in the fourth minute as Mata found Schurrle inside the area, but his effort was cleared off the line by a covering defender.

However, the visitors were dealt a blow in the 10th minute when Fernando Torres was forced off with what appeared to be a knee injury, to be replaced by Samuel Eto’o.

The early change did little to upset Chelsea, as 10 minutes later Ramires put them in front.

Schurrle broke free down the left before finding Eto’o, whose scuffed effort ran perfectly for the Brazilian to prod home from six yards.

On the half hour, the visitors threatened again, Eto’o and Mata combining on the edge of the box before the latter’s weak shot was straight at Ciprian Tatarusanu.

Chelsea were looking increasingly dangerous on the counter, and they duly doubled their advantage a minute before half-time with another rapid break.

Eto’o surged forward before cutting in from the left, with Tatarusanu parrying his effort straight into the path of the onrushing Georgievski, who could do little to avoid diverting the ball into the empty net.

Ten minutes after the break, Ramires got his second and Chelsea’s third to put the visitors in total control.

Schurrle turned past his man brilliantly down the left before slipping the ball inside to Oscar, who fed Ramires, the Brazilian taking a touch before firing beyond Tatarusanu.

It was almost a fourth three minutes later, Mata striking the post after collecting Oscar’s backheel inside the box.

The hosts responded immediately with their best effort of the game, Cech back-pedalling sharply to tip over Cristian Tanase’s chip.

Chelsea were on the offensive again, Schurrle wasting two presentable chances midway through the half as the game became stretched.

There were some signs of life from the hosts in the 73rd minute, Nicolae Stanciu being denied by Cech before blazing the rebound over the bar.

But in the final minute, substitute Willian fed Lampard on the edge of the box, who swept the ball in off the left-hand post to complete an excellent night for Chelsea.

According to Goal

The Poland international netted twice, while Marco Reus also found the back of the net, as last year’s runner-up kick-started their European campaign.

Borussia Dortmund picked up their first points of this season’s Champions League courtesy of a 3-0 win over Olympique de Marseille on Tuesday.

Robert Lewandowski, who netted a double, and Marco Reus were the men on target as the hosts – beaten finalists last term – got their first-ever win in the competition against the French side.

Poland international Lewandowski put the finishing touches to a well-worked team goal after 19 minutes before Reus’ free-kick found its way into the back of the net seven minutes after the break.

Lewandowski then added a third from the spot late on to wrap up the victory.

The home side – who were watched by coach Jurgen Klopp from the stands as he served a one-match touchline ban for his protests in the defeat against Napoli – were without goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller following a red card in the Group F opener, while Eric Durm replaced the injured Marcel Schmelzer.

Marseille were once again without striker Andre-Pierre Gignac, who has been sidelined with a toe injury.

Both sides came into the game off the back of domestic wins at the weekend – against Lorient and Freiburg respectively – but it was Dortmund who began the brighter, with Reus firing narrowly over in the second minute before forcing a save from Steve Mandanda.

However, Marseille had strong claims for a penalty turned down shortly afterwards when Saber Khelifa went down under a challenge from Durm.

Dortmund eventually went ahead through a goal of the highest quality after 18 minutes, with Lewandowski netting his third goal in four days.

After a quick break, Reus played in Henrikh Mkhitaryan. He fired across goal to Durm, who in turn put the ball on a plate for the Pole to cap off a wonderfully worked team goal.

While Dortmund continued to enjoy plenty of possession, they struggled to create too many further clear-cut chances before the break.

However, they were two goals ahead six minutes after the interval after a Reus free-kick forced Mandanda into a costly error.

The visitors’ goalkeeper flapped at the inswinging delivery and, while he tried desperately to claw the ball out, his efforts proved futile as the ball crept in and Dortmund doubled their lead.

Mandanda then went some way to atoning for his error, producing a smart stop to deny Durm from close range after 58 minutes.

But Lewandowski made it three 10 minutes from time from the penalty spot after Reus had been pulled down by Khelifa in the area to cap off a comfortable victory for Klopp’s men.

According to Goal

The hosts looked to have nicked all three points with a late header from Stefano Denswil but the Rossoneri forward levelled matters with an injury-time spot-kick.

Ajax brought a run of three successive defeats in the Champions League to an end as they drew 1-1 with AC Milan in Amsterdam.

The Eredivisie side dominated large parts of the Group H encounter and were unlucky not to have taken all three points after scoring in the 90th minute through Stefano Denswil, but a stoppage-time penalty from Mario Balotelli earned the visitors a point.

Kolbeinn Sigthorsson and Viktor Fischer both went close for the hosts early but they failed to stretch Christian Abbiati in the Milan goal.

Both teams came into the clash off the back of league victories at the weekend, but there were still changes from those games.

Daley Blind and Sigthorsson came in for the hosts, while Massimiliano Allegri made three changes, with Balotelli, Ignazio Abate and Riccardo Montolivo all starting.

Frank de Boer’s side began the game in the ascendancy as they controlled possession and went closest to opening the scoring.

Sigthorsson was the first to test Abbiati in the fifth minute after receiving a pass from Lerin Duarte, the Iceland international fired low towards the bottom corner but the goalkeeper saved well with his legs.

Milan were struggling to get hold of the ball and they were let off again 13 minutes later as Fischer sent a drive just wide of Abbiati’s left-hand post.

The Dane received the ball from Blind after neat work from the full-back, but his effort never worried the Milan goal.

Niklas Moisander should have opened the scoring with nine minutes of the half remaining, but he fired over the bar after Milan had failed to clear a corner properly.

Montolivo had the first chance after the break but he could not break the deadlock as he forced Cillessen into his first save of the match. The midfielder met a low pull-back from Kevin Constant but his shot was punched away by the Dutch goalkeeper.

Ajax were far from out of the game though and Abbiati was again called into action just before the hour. Sigthorsson got himself in front of Abate to meet a Fischer cross but he headed straight at Abbiati, who did not have to move to make the save.

Balotelli had been anonymous in attack for the visitors but he burst into life in the 63rd minute as he saw a curling crash against the crossbar.

The striker cut inside Moisander on the left-hand side of the penalty area and fired a shot that looked destined for the top corner, but Cillessen got his fingertips to it and turned it onto the bar.

Both sides pushed for a late winner and the hosts thought they had one when Denswil evaded the Milan defenders to power a header home from six yards out.

However, Balotelli was brought down inside the penalty area in stoppage time by Mike van der Hoorn and the striker made no mistake from the spot, sending Cillessen the wrong way, to seal a point.

According to Goal