Bayern top Barça 3-0 on Lewandowski double
Barcelona, Sep 14 (EFE).- Bayern Munich got two goals from Robert Lewandowski to defeat Barcelona 3-0 here Tuesday in the 2021-2022 Champions League opener for both clubs.
The Bavarians take sole possession of first place in Group E, 2 points ahead of Benfica and Dynamo Kiev, who deadlocked 0-0 in the Ukrainian capital.
While Barça, still adjusting to life without Lionel Messi, are bottom of the group after losing their Champions League opener for the first time since 1997.
Thirteen months to the day after the Bavarians embarrassed the Catalan club 8-2 in a Champions League quarterfinal played in Lisbon, the Blaugrana made a decent start with encouragement from the pandemic-restricted but spirited crowd of just under 40,000.
Leroy Sane forced a save from Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the 19th minute and defender Gerard Pique had to dive to deny youngster Jamal Musiala.
But the hosts needed fortune on their side against a much more talented Bayern and luck deserted them in the 34th minute when Thomas Müller’s shot took a deflection off Eric Garcia and past Ter Stegen.
The Bayern back line turned aside a potential equalizer by Sergio Busquets early in the second half, but Ter Stegen kept Barça in the contest with a tremendous stop against Sane a few minutes later.
There was nothing the keeper could do in the 56th minute to thwart Lewandowski, who hammered home after a strike by Musiala bounced off the post and went on to complete the brace in the 85th minute.
With 75 goals, the Poland international is now third on the list of all-time top scorers in Champions League. EFE
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