MY ACCOUNT
Bayern Munich defeated Inter 2-0 at San Siro in their Champions League opener thanks to a first-half strike from Leroy Sane and Danilo D’Ambrosio’s own goal.
The visitors dominated the opening stages and deservedly went ahead through Sane when he brilliantly brought down a Joshua Kimmich long ball, before rounding Andre Onana and drilling home.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side came under increasing Inter pressure in the second half, but D’Ambrosio’s awkward attempt at a block from a Sane shot killed the game off and earned Bayern all three points.
Bayern have now won their last 19 Champions League openers, as the Bundesliga titans paved the way for what they hope will be qualification from a tough Group C.
Both goalkeepers had work to do in the early exchanges – Thomas Muller testing Onana while D’Ambrosio stung the palms of Manuel Neuer at the other end.
Muller drew more decent stops out of Onana but Inter’s goalkeeper was beaten in the 25th minute when Sane kept his composure after latching onto Kimmich’s pass.
Bayern could have added a second before the break, but Onana parried an Alphonso Davies shot before Muller fired the rebound wide.
Edin Dzeko should have equalised for Inter after the restart, only to send a low drive straight at Neuer.
Yet any hopes of an Inter comeback were all but ended as D’Ambrosio turned Sane’s slightly wayward effort into his own net.
Sane almost had an assist to his name when he teed up substitute Serge Gnabry late on, but the winger blazed over from a presentable position as Bayern settled for a two-goal cushion.
What does it mean? Brilliant Bayern off to a European flyer
The German champions were full value for the win, attempting 21 shots to their opponent’s nine, while hitting the target 11 times.
Inter could not lay a glove on Bayern and as far as European away days against another continental heavyweight go, this one was as comfortable as they can get.
Creative Kimmich
Sane might have been Bayern’s standout performer but he was pushed close for that accolade by Kimmich, who was typically terrific at the heart of midfield.
The Germany international completed 93.6 per cent (75/81) of his attempted passes, which included his sublime assist for Sane’s opener, while winning possession back seven times.
Dumfries disappoints
Denzel Dumfries did not have his best game in an Inter shirt, giving away possession a joint team-high 16 times.
Up against Sane, Dumfries managed to make just one successful tackle and hardly offered a threat going the other way, with neither of his two crosses form open play proving successful.
Key Opta Facts
– Bayern have won all four of their competitive away games against Inter.
– Inter have lost consecutive home games in the Champions League for only the second time in their history, also doing so between February and September 2011 (three in a row).
– Bayern are unbeaten in their last 11 matches against Italian sides in the Champions League (W9 D2) since a 3-2 loss to Inter in March 2011.
– Only Roy Makaay (10 apps) and Robert Lewandowski (16 apps) have reached 10 Champions League goals in fewer appearances for Bayern than Sane (19 apps).
– D’Ambrosio became the sixth Inter player to score an own goal in the Champions League.
What’s next?
Inter return to Serie A action when they host Torino on Saturday, while Bayern will play Stuttgart in the Bundesliga the same day.
