Bayern breeze past Club Brugge to stay perfect

FC Bayern beat Club Brugge 4-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday night to maintain their perfect start to the season. Lennart Karl, Harry Kane and Luis Díaz handed Bayern a comfortable 3-0 half-time lead, with substitute Nicolas Jackson adding the final flourish in the second half.

Bayern lined up with Manuel Neuer in goal and Raphaël Guerreiro, Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah and Konrad Laimer in defence. Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlović anchored a midfield featuring Michael Olise, Karl and Díaz, with Kane up front. Tom Bischof, Leon Goretzka, Jackson, Minjae Kim and Wisdom Mike came on for Guerreiro, Karl, Kane, Upamecano and Díaz in the second half.

Dominant first 45

Bayern controlled matters throughout and took an early lead when Karl hammered the ball into the top corner of the net to crown a fine solo run and become the youngest Bayern player to score a Champions League goal. Brugge keeper Nordin Jackers turned a Pavlović effort onto the post, but Munich soon made it two when Laimer’s square invited Kane to tap in.

Díaz saw an effort saved and Karl fired just wide before Laimer set up the Colombian, who let fly and found the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar. Neuer saved from Christos Tzolis and Jackers parried against Díaz at the other end, with Kane also hitting the woodwork.

Jackson adds gloss

The tempo of the game wasn’t as high after the restart, but Vincent Kompany’s men were always a step quicker than their opponents. Kane saw a shot deflected behind and multiple efforts saved. Jackers also denied Upamecano and the Brugge goalkeeper parried against Olise and kept out Jackson’s follow-up, with Díaz seeing another shot blocked off the line.

Bayern made it four when Laimer’s effort was blocked into the path of Jackson, who tapped home to add gloss to the scoreline. Mike saw an effort saved on his Champions League debut as Bayern claimed their 12th win from 12 this season and a new German record.

The Bavarians will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to face Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen