The remarkable journey of Bayern Munich in the Champions League shows no signs of slowing down. In a thrilling match on Tuesday, the “Rekordmeister” secured a 3-1 victory against Turkish giants Galatasaray in Istanbul, thanks to goals by Kingsley Coman (8′), Harry Kane (74′), and Jamal Musiala (80′). Mauro Icardi scored the equalizer from the spot (30′).
This triumph has marked several significant milestones for Bayern:
- It’s the eighth consecutive away win in the Champions League group stage.
- The 16th consecutive group stage win.
- An astonishing 37 consecutive group stage games without defeat.
Undoubtedly, these records highlight Bayern’s dominance in European football.
Although Bayern eventually dominated the last 20 minutes of the game, the match was likely closer than expected for both fans and the team’s management. Kingsley Coman’s early goal in the eighth minute was unexpected, and questions arose about the penalty, but Mauro Icardi’s equalizer was well-deserved.
Kingsley Coman expressed, “It was very tense. It wasn’t easy because they created a lot of pressure, but there was more space in the second half, and I think that’s why we scored more after the break. I love atmospheres like this. You have a lot of adrenaline in a game like this, and tonight was incredible.”
Until the 70th minute, Galatasaray persistently pressed forward, creating chances but failing to breach Bayern’s defense. It appeared that Bayern was struggling with the intensity created by the passionate fans at RAMS Park. “I’ve been lucky enough to have coached many dominant teams in my recent jobs, but that can always happen. Galatasaray have a very strong team, and we weren’t at our best level in the first half,” noted Thomas Tuchel, Bayern Munich’s head coach.
In the second half, Bayern demonstrated a significant improvement. The 74th-minute goal by Harry Kane, the Englishman for whom Bayern paid over $100 million, became the decisive turning point. Just six minutes later, Kane assisted Jamal Musiala, doubling Bayern’s lead. Kane expressed the importance of the win: “This is a really tough place to come. A tough stadium with the fans pushing them on. It made things difficult for us, especially in the first half. In the second half, we were a bit more calm, better on the ball, and took our chances. To have nine points after three games is really important.”
With nine points from three games, Bayern is on the brink of securing a place in the next round. This early qualification is a welcome prospect for head coach Tuchel, considering the limited depth of the Bayern squad. Although Noussair Mazraoui made his return to the side, Bayern dressed just seven players for the bench.
This victory not only signifies success on the road but also opens up possibilities for squad rotation in the remaining two Champions League games. However, there’s no time for Bayern to rest, with Darmstadt up next on the weekend, followed by a DFB Pokal match against Saarbrücken and the highly anticipated Klassiker clash with Dortmund on November 5. Bayern Munich’s journey continues, and fans are eagerly awaiting what’s next in their storied season.
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