Bayern Munich 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
A night when the Champions League pressure was off – and it showed, to an extent.
After successive domestic defeats, Bayern Munich probably needed this result more than Spurs and the hosts deserved their success against last year’s finalists.
Yet with both sides already qualified for the knockout stages and unable to trade positions in Group B, it would be foolish to read too much into this result.
All I would say is study the SBOBET Champions League 2019 betting odds carefully after the draw is made next Monday and take a punt on one or both of these clubs to progress further.
I have a sneaking suspicion both will do well.
Highlights of the game
Both teams rested key men here, including star strikers Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski, who is just one goal short of Karim Benzema for fourth place in the competition’s all-time scoring chart.
There was still plenty of firepower on show, though, and Benjamin Pavard saw a fine volley blocked just. Serge Gnabry then played a ball across the face of goal and Kingsley Coman steered in the opener.
That was in the 14th minute, but Spurs did not want for motivation after last time out against Bayern – the first time they had conceded seven goals at home in their 137-year history – and were level within six minutes.
Giovani Lo Celso picked out Ryan Sessegnon, who thrashed a shot beyond Manuel Neuer at the near post.
Injury forced Coman off but Bayern pressed on and regained the lead on the stroke of half-time. Thomas Müller, who replaced Coman, stabbed home from close range after Alphonso Davies’ shot hit a post and ricocheted kindly.
They think a lot of Davies in these parts.
They also think a lot of on-loan Philippe Coutinho, and he settled the contest just before the midway point in the second period. The Brazilian stepped inside a challenge on the edge of the area and bent a peerless shot beyond the grasp of Paulo Gazzaniga for one of the group stage Champions League 2019 highlights.
The goal confirmed Bayern as only the seventh team to win all six games in a Champions League group stage.
While the result was not in doubt, Spurs boss Jose Mourinho – who saw his side gain their first clean sheet under his stewardship just days before travelling to Germany – will likely not be too disappointed and will have gained an insight into which of his fringe and young squad players may be destined for better things.
Although few made the most of a rare outing, Spurs were never going to collapse defensively as they had in October. They should be a much tougher proposition when the competition resumes in February.
There again, beware Bayern too!
Key statistics
Muller scored his 28th Champions League goal at the Allianz Arena – only four players have ever scored more at a single venue in the competition (Lionel Messi at the Nou Camp and Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul and Benzema at the Bernabeu).
Sessegnon is the third-youngest player to score a Champions League goal under Mourinho, after Carlos Alberto (19 years, 167 days) and Mario Balotelli (18 years, 84 days).
He has also become the 13th different English teenager to score a Champions League goal, two more than any other nation net in the competition (France, 11).
Bayern became just the second club to win all six of their group games in a single Champions League campaign (in the competition’s current format, since 2003-04) after Real Madrid, who have done so twice (in 2011-12 and 2014-15).
By collecting maximum points (18) and a goal difference of +19, Bayern became the best group winner in the history of the competition.
This was Bayern’s 23rd Champions League group campaign, fewer only than Barcelona and Real Madrid (both 24). They have now won their section 16 times.
Bayern have won 17 of their last 18 home group-stage matches (drawn one) and are unbeaten in Munich since a 3-2 home loss against Manchester City on Matchday 6 in December 2013.
Tottenham’s record in Germany is won five, drawn two, lost seven; they have lost only twice in their last seven visits (won three, drawn twice).
Mourinho has never beaten Bayern in Munich, while the Reds have not lost a Champions League group game on home turf in six years, winning 26 of 33 fixtures at the Allianz Arena in the competition since then.
What’s next?
Bayern now try and rekindle their Bundesliga title defence with three important games in a week.
They host Werder Bremen on Saturday (December 14), travel to Freiburg four days later and then host Wolfsburg before the league closes down for a near-month winter break.
Spurs have big ones themselves before Christmas.
They are at Wolves on Sunday (December 15) before Mourinho welcomes former club Chelsea to north London on December 22.
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