A DEFLECTED STRIKE by Jerome Boateng with a minute remaining earned Bayern Munich a dramatic 1-0 victory against Manchester City in their opening Champions League game of the season on Wednesday.
An inspired performance by City goalkeeper Joe Hart looked to have secured his team a point in the meeting of the English and German champions at Munich’s Allianz Arena.
But former City defender Boateng hammered a volley into the net in the dying seconds, although his venomous strike appeared to take a deflection off Bayern’s Mario Goetze on its way in.
Hart had pulled off a string of fine saves from Thomas Mueller, David Alaba, Goetze and Boateng but the England international was finally beaten as Bayern earned a deserved win in their opening Group E fixture.
Manchester City had come back from two goals down to beat Bayern 3-2 at the same venue in last season’s group stages and they started with Edin Dzeko, who has yet to score this season, leading the attack instead of Sergio Aguero.
Franck Ribery missed out through injury for the home team, who gave new signing Mehdi Benatia his first start on the right side of a three-man defence.
Bayern were looking to banish memories of last season’s 4-0 semi-final defeat to Real Madrid in their last Champions League match in Munich and they almost made a sensational start to the new campaign.
Goetze and Robert Lewandowksi released Mueller but after rounding Hart, the German attacker shot into the side netting inside 40 seconds.
Dzeko tested Manuel Neuer after a good spell of possession for the visitors but soon the home team started to make an impression at the other end.
After 19 minutes Juan Bernat crossed for Mueller, whose bullet header was brilliantly turned over the bar by Hart.
Two minutes later a low cross was directed towards goal by Goetze from 10 yards but again Hart made a smart stop, although Bayern claimed that City defender Vincent Kompany had used his arm to take some of the pace off the effort.
Dzeko curled a left-foot shot just to the right of Neuer’s goal and Boateng then cut out a dangerous Jesus Navas cross as Bayern manager Pep Guardiola became increasingly animated on the sideline.
Guardiola pushed David Alaba from defence into midfield and the move almost brought an immediate reward when the Austrian shot wide from distance on the half hour.
A minute later, the 22-year-old came closer still. He connected on the volley from Mueller’s touch down but the strike was once again beaten away by Hart.
Lewandowski was the next to threaten for Bayern after being released by Alaba but, under pressure from Hart, the Polish forward found the side netting from a tight angle.
Roared on by 68,000 fans, Bayern continued to press in the second half. Lahm shot wide and Goetze was thwarted by Hart before David Silva headed wide from Navas’ cross at the other end.
With 19 minutes left Hart fumbled Rafinha’s shot but the City keeper recovered superbly to deny Mueller on the rebound.
A Champions League game involving Manchester City looked to be set to finish scoreless for the first time when Hart turned a ferocious long-strike from Boateng behind for a corner with three minutes left.
But City were struggling to clear their lines and in the final minute Boateng caught the ball sweetly on the volley to beat Hart from the left edge of the penalty area.
Sergio Aguero almost snatched a late equaliser for City but Bayern got their revenge for last season’s defeat in Munich.
