Bayern Munich 3-1 Tottenham: Group B winners too strong for much-changed Spurs

Bayern Munich completed a perfect Group B campaign with a 3-1 win over a weakened Tottenham in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Both clubs had already confirmed their places in the knockout stage, and several starting XI changes – including six made by Jose Mourinho – led to an open affair.

Bayern were superior for long periods after Kingsley Coman’s early opener, although Ryan Sessegnon marked his full Tottenham debut with the equaliser six minutes later.

Thomas Muller replaced an injured Coman and put Bayern back in front on the stroke of half-time, before Phillipe Coutinho curled the Bundesliga side out of sight, the goal confirming a second defeat for Mourinho in charge of pool runners-up Spurs.

Thomas Müller in this competition =

#UCL pic.twitter.com/yybgB0YyIX

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 11, 2019

Tottenham were given two warnings before Coman cushioned Serge Gnabry’s deflected pass and stroked the 14th-minute opener into the bottom-right corner.

Spurs quickly responded through Sessegnon. The 19-year-old rifled past Manuel Neuer at the near post after Jerome Boateng turned the ball into his path and, in the process, became Tottenham’s youngest Champions League goalscorer.

But after losing Coman to a suspected hyperextension of his left knee, Bayern’s advantage was restored by replacement Muller, making amends following a gilt-edged Thiago Alcantara miss on the rebound from a Gnabry shot against the post.

Muller was perfectly placed to convert the loose ball in the 45th minute after the upright denied Alphonso Davies at close range.

There was time left in a breathless first half for Coutinho to unleash a long-range shot that Paulo Gazzaniga tipped against the crossbar.

The Brazilian would not be denied in the 64th minute, his curling finish from the edge of the area giving the besieged Tottenham goalkeeper no chance.

That was a special one @Phil_Coutinho #FCBTOT 3-1 pic.twitter.com/GHR3hl4FbQ

— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) December 11, 2019

Son Heung-min appeared off the bench for Spurs, but the Premier League outfit were largely toothless in the absence of the rested Harry Kane as Bayern made it six wins from six in the group.
 

What does it mean? Bayern back in form ahead of Bundesliga battles

Securing a 100 per cent record in Group B was of secondary consequence for Bayern, who needed to regain some winning momentum after successive league defeats.

Those setbacks have hindered their title ambitions, but a slick performance at Allianz Arena – even after making five changes – will have given Hansi Flick hope of gaining better results leading into the mid-season break.

Gnabry a goal threat again

Robert Lewandowski’s spot on the bench and the loss of Coman in the 27th minute gave Gnabry more to do in attack, and the scorer of four goals in the 7-2 rout when these teams last met was again a thorn in Spurs’ side.

He set up the first for Coman, created several more promising openings and would have had a goal himself if not for the woodwork.

Starting chance escapes Eriksen

Mourinho named Christian Eriksen in his starting XI for the first time but the Denmark international, who appears to be on his way out of the club, gave only fleeting glimpses of his ability in a performance that took place on the fringes of the contest.

What’s next?

Bayern look to get their Bundesliga title defence back on track with a home game against Werder Bremen on Saturday, while Tottenham travel to Wolves on Sunday. Both sides are then in Monday’s Champions League draw.