It had been difficult to locate any pre-match optimism around Manchester United. The club has sunk so low, so quickly in the early weeks of the season that it was almost as if their supporters would accept a defeat without humiliation on their Champions League return.
It was what they got. There were flickers from United in the opening quarter of the tie and the tonic of a first goal from the summer signing, Rasmus Højlund, to make it 2-1 at the beginning of the second half. At least United fought until the end, something that the beleaguered Erik ten Hag will cling to in the days ahead.
United only seem to play in fits and starts at the moment. Their self-belief is at an awfully low ebb – it was as if they, too, expected a fourth loss in five games – and their numerous injured players cannot return quickly enough.
The image of the evening was that of the goalkeeper, André Onana, with his face buried in the turf, burning with embarrassment after spilling a tame Leroy Sané shot into his own goal for 1-0.
The inevitable Harry Kane goal celebration was not far behind. Kane got the assist for Sané and, when Christian Eriksen was penalised for handball shortly after Højlund’s goal, the England captain buried the penalty. Kane has five goals in five starts for his new club.
Serge Gnabry had scored Bayern’s second and they had the chances to add to their lead before Casemiro slipped and still managed to steer home for his first. It was a bizarre ending because at 3-2, Thomas Müller – on as a substitute – hit the post on a Bayern counter before Tel further burnished his fast-rising reputation with a cool finish.
Ten Hag had been bold with his approach at the outset, Fernandes and Eriksen pushed up in central midfield, Facundo Pellistri given his chance on the right wing. The 21-year-old almost enjoyed the dream start only to feel Alphonso Davies make a saving tackle on him. When the ball broke, Eriksen drilled low for goal. Sven Ulreich saved smartly.
Ten Hag’s first lament was that his team did not get anything from their early promise, which was marked by some slick passing. Instead, Bayern stirred, with Lisandro Martínez required to race back to win a one-on-one tackle with Gnabry.
The breakthrough goal was a body blow and if Onana’s howler will take the headlines, the defending on the United left was so tame. Sané was shown inside by Sergio Reguilón and Marcus Rashford but Eriksen did not make the tackle. Sané was allowed to swap passes with Kane and unload his shot and that was when Onana wanted the ground to swallow him up.