Jostled for more than an hour, Bayern Munich had to work to overcome Galatasaray (3-1), Tuesday in Istanbul during the 3rd day of the Champions League, taking a big step towards the eighth of final.
With nine points on the clock after three days, Thomas Tuchel’s men are taking the lead in Group A, which also includes Copenhagen and Manchester United, in bad shape after two defeats in the first two days.
The reigning German champions – undefeated for 37 matches in the group stage of the Champions League – struck hard from the start against the Turks who had been undefeated this season.
Perfectly served at the far post, French international Kingsley Coman, already a scorer on Saturday in the Bundesliga, opened the scoring with a cross strike in the 8th minute of play, on the Munich side’s first action.
But the Turks, in front of their lively public, did not give up, quickly regaining their colors.
In the 30th minute, Icardi, uncertain until an hour before kick-off due to an injury to his right ankle, came back to score with a panenka from the penalty spot, his 15th goal in 16 matches since the start of the season.
Dominant, the Istanbulites caused a few scares before the break for the Bavarian goalkeeper Sven Ulreich, forced into a fine save on a point-blank half-volley from Aktürkoglu (38th), then not far from being beaten on a slightly too open shot from Icardi (46th).
Returning from the locker room, the Germans, deprived of several players including their midfielder Leon Goretzka, injured in one hand, struggled to develop their game, well pressed by Okan Buruk’s men, who had created a surprise by imposing at Old Trafford (2-3) during the 2nd day.
In the 60th minute, Icardi and Torreira again made the Munich defense dizzy during an incursion into the area.
Three minutes later, following a Munich reaction, Leroy Sané forced Fernando Muslera, the Istanbul goalkeeper, into a superb dive on a powerful half-volley.
The Istanbul defense finally cracked in the 73rd minute: little in sight until then, Harry Kane, battling with Sacha Boey in front of Muslera, gave the Germans the advantage again at close range (2-1), scoring his 11th goal all season. competitions combined since the start of the season.
Five minutes later (78th), Jamal Musiala, alone ten meters from the goal, stunned the Turks and killed any suspense with a powerful shot (3-1).
