Matchday 3 in the UEFA Champions League League Phase saw Club Brugge make its way to the illustrious Allianz Arena where giants FC Bayern Munich awaited. The home team showed no mercy, scoring two within the first fifteen minutes, and making it 3-0 upon the half-hour mark. A fourth was added to the tally in a more relaxed second half of a game with many lessons to be taken.
A win by the narrowest of margins on the weekend for Club at OH Leuven. The hefty task at hand in Munich spurred Nicky Hayen to making some changes to his starting XI, with Seys out slightly injured and making way for Sabbe at right back. Ordóñez also reclaimed his position, along with Audoor who was preferred over Sabbe. For the home team, the most notable starter was 17-year-old Karl, who was given his first starting spot in the UEFA Champions League by Kompany.
Bayern's home run in the CL is unrelenting, but Club started out well, with a first threat two minutes into the game as Forbs slipped past his defender to lay it back to Sabbe, but the defender's shot proved too meek to unsettle Neuer. It did not take long for the Germans to create a response, and with more success. Karl was handed the ball in the centre, and a clever dummy helped him through the heart of Club's defense. A beautifully aimed shot followed, sailing over Jackers in goal (1-0). An early goal was to be avoided at all costs, but things got even more sticky a few minutes later as the ball was squared to Pavlović, who curled the leather very nicely into the corner only to find Jackers on its way, tapping it against the post to deny a swift second Bayern goal. It was to no avail, however: Laimer was sent deep into the box, and the German cleverly saw how Kane followed up well to pop up by the far post to double the lead.
Club was suffering against a rampant Bayern, and Jackers was called upon again with twenty minutes played, as Díaz made his way past Sabbe, trying to tap it in by the first post, but once again the Club goalie stood firm.
With thirty minutes played, the Rekordmeister surged forward as an inswinging pass from Upamecano reached Karl, making his way through Club's defence only to put the ball narrowly wide of the first post. A few minutes later, however, the hosts added a third goal when Díaz was given too much time and space within the penalty area, firing it in hard off the underside of the crossbar. Shortly after, Club responded with a sharp cross from Tzolis. Vanaken was able to deviate the ball lightly with his head, but not enough to get it on goal. Moments later, Tzolis tried going at it himself coming in from the left wing. The shot that followed was on goal, but Neuer did not allow himself to be outsmarted. On the stroke of halftime Bayern still had the chance for that fourth goal, but first Díaz did not get past Jackers from close range and then Kane hit the post from a sharp angle.
Club kicked off the second half with two changes opting for a more solid defense. Siquet and Spileers came on at the expense of Sabbe and Forbs. Initially Bayern started at a slightly lower pace, but after a good five minutes the first danger came from the home team when Kane surged forward and unleashed a strike from the edge of the box, but saw it take a deflection on Mechele before it went wide.
Just before the hour-mark, Kane latched onto a through ball but was thwarted by Jackers who did great to deny Bayern's No. 9. The Englishman remained very industrious, and it took an attentive Spileers to prevent Kane from adding another one.
The Germans continued to look for that fourth goal, but Club was now defending with more resilience. First Stanković successfully threw himself into the path of a shot by Goretzka and moments later Jackers stopped an attempt by Olise. The retake was for Jackson, but again Club's goalie intervened well, also helped by Spileers who saved Díaz's attempt on the goal line.
Despite all that, Bayern did get a fourth goal when Jackson slid in to stab it home on the rebound following Spileers' block on Laimer's effort.
Two minutes of added time did not bring any further chances. 4-0 at the Allianz Arena against a world class star-studded outfit. On Sunday, a trip to Antwerp awaits.
UEFA Champions League - League Phase (Matchday 3)
Attendance: 75,024 - Allianz Arena
Referee: Donatas Rumšas (Lit)
FC Bayern Munich: Manuel Neuer - Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano (81' Minjae Kim), Jonathan Tah, Raphaël Guerreiro (69' Tom Bischof)- Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlović, Michael Olise - Lennart Karl (69' Leon Goretzka), Harry Kane (69' Nicolas Jackson), Luis Díaz (81' Wisdom Mike).
Bench: Sven Ulreich, Jonas Urbig, Minjae Kim, Leon Goretzka, Nicolas Jackson, Tom Bischof, Sacha Boey, Wisdom Mike, Vincent Manuba.
Coach: Vincent Kompany.
Club Brugge: Nordin Jackers - Kyriani Sabbe (46' Hugo Siquet), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Bjorn Meijer - Aleksandar Stanković, Hans Vanaken, Lynnt Audoor (66' Cisse Sandra) - Carlos Forbs (46' Jorne Spileers), Nicolò Tresoldi (66' Romeo Vermant), Christos Tzolis (80' Mamadou Diakhon).
Bench: Dani van den Heuvel, Zaid Romero, Hugo Vetlesen, Cisse Sandra, Romeo Vermant, Gustaf Nilsson, Hugo Siquet, Jorne Spileers, Joaquin Seys, Mamadou Diakhon, Shandre Campbell, Kaye Furo.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Yellow: Kim
Red: none
Goals: 5' Karl (1-0), 14' Kane (2-0), 34' Díaz (3-0), 79' Jackson (4-0)