Bayern Munich lived up to their billing as European champions at the Etihad Stadium last night, delivering a masterclass to dispatch Manchester City with surprising ease.
The formidable attacking trio of Franck Ribery, Thomas Mueller and Arjen Robben all struck as City were completely outplayed in Group D, although they also contributed to their own downfall.
Observers of the England goalkeeping fraternity will wince at the errors from goalkeeper Joe Hart - and will surely compare notes after the wonderful display from Celtic's England aspirant Fraser Forster at Parkhead the previous evening.
Hart was not helped by an unhealthy dose of defensive ineptitude in front of him but the hosts at least finished strongly as Alvaro Negredo replied and Bayern had former City defender Jerome Boateng sent off.
The 3-1 result lifted Bayern clear at the top of the group and, even after just two games, probably left City in a battle for second place with their next opponents, CSKA Moscow.
The overwhelming feeling was that a City side that thrashed Manchester United just 10 days previously were taught a footballing lesson.
Manuel Pellegrini was appointed by City in the summer in expectation he could improve the club's standing in Europe but this was clear indication of the scale of the task ahead.
Yet as brilliant as the Germans were, the defence and Hart had a harrowing time. The goalkeeper was at fault for Bayern's opener and was beaten too easily for the third goal, while Gael Clichy was the chief culprit for the second.
City seemed intent on making a lively start but it soon became apparent that Bayern had the class to boss the game. They carved out an early opening as David Alaba was given room to cross but Robben was unable to direct a header on target.
City showed some promise as Jesus Navas crossed for Micah Richards but the defender, surprisingly recalled in place of Pablo Zabaleta, headed at Manuel Neuer.
Bayern firmly took control of the match in the seventh minute as Ribery cut in from the left and unleashed a low swerving shot from the edge of the area which Hart failed to deal with. It was powerful strike but after a relatively serene spell for club and country for Hart - keeping five successive clean sheets in August and September - it was a mistake that will provide untimely ammunition to critics ahead of England's climactic World Cup qualifiers.
Bayern oozed class thereafter, barely giving City a kick as they dominated possession and cut their way through the hosts with quick and incisive passes. It yielded few clear-cut chances in the first half but Hart punched unconvincingly from an Alaba cross and Toni Kroos had a long-range shot deflected wide.
Bayern stepped up the pace after the break and Robben had a shot deflected from the edge of the area after more neat interplay.
City had a bit more determination about them after the resumption but their renewed spirit was killed off as Dante picked out Mueller with a crossfield pass. The City defence were simply caught flat-footed and Clichy stopped in expectation of an offside flag that never came, exposing Hart.Mueller seized the opportunity and rounded Hart to double the lead.
Just three minutes later, City's task became impossible. Fernandinho lost the ball in midfield and Robben charged down the right, bypassing Clichy and wrong-footing Nastasic before beating Hart at his near post.
As Bayern continued to threaten, City finally found some bite. James Milner had a shot tipped over and fellow substitute Negredo pulled a goal back with a powerful shot off the post 11 minutes from time.
Boateng was shown a straight red card after halting a Yaya Toure burst on the edge of the area and David Silva curled the resulting free-kick against the bar. Negredo also headed wide as City gave themselves some encouragement for the remainder of the campaign but Richards admitted it was "back to the drawing board".
"They're a really good team and they showed that tonight; that's why they're champions. I though Ribery and Robben were excellent. They didn't play with a striker as such and the movement in midfield was where the game was won.
"We've had a lot of games. There were a few tired legs but we're a lot better than that."
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