Bayern move past Eindhoven 4-1 in UEFA Champions League
Xinhua, October 20, 2016 Adjust font size:
Bayern Munich reaped their 14th consecutive win on home soil after cruising to a 4-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven in their third-round Group D Champions League meeting on Wednesday.
Phillip Couc's men remain winless in Europe's elite competition as goals from Thomas Mueller, Joshua Kimmich, Robert Lewandowski and Arjen Robben secured Bayern's second win in Group D.
After three winless games in row, the Bavarians caught a perfect start in front of a sold out Allianz Arena as Thomas Mueller opened the scoring just 13 minutes into the game. The German international capitalized on Arjen Robben's quick corner to slot home his rebound from a sharp angle at the near post.
The hosts gained momentum and forced the visitors from the Netherlands to play defence. Hence, the German giants doubled their lead seven minutes later through Joshua Kimmich, who nodded home David Alaba's pinpoint lob to the far post.
PSV Eindhoven barely gained a foothold as the match progressed, but as soon as Carlo Ancelotti's men retracted with the two-goal lead Luciano Narsingh reduced the arrears out of the blue to shock the host before the break with a long range effort following a fast break in the 41st minute.
After the restart, Eindhoven had the chance to upset the hosts with the equalizer but Luuk De Jong headed over the target before Bayern custodian Manuel Neuer defused Gastin Pereiro's effort from close range.
However, despite a better start into the second half by the visitors, it was Bayern who extended their lead in the 59th minute, when Robert Lewandowski headed home a rebound from goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet after a shot on target from Robben.
The Dutchman was in the thick of things in the dying minutes of the game as he made the game safe in the 84th minute after heading home Thiago Alcantara's chip into the box.
"We played well, that was what I expected," Bayern coach Ancelotti said. "We showed a good reaction. We had some problems at the end of the first half but otherwise it was a good game."
"The first 20-25 minutes were very difficult," Eindhoven coach Cocu said. "They put us under so much pressure but we were a lot better after we scored."
With the result, Bayern remain in second place of Group D behind Atletico Madrid. Meanwhile, PSV Eindhoven stay in third position after suffering their second loss. Endit