Bayern give City the blues

Soccer:A brace of goals from striker Mario Gomez wrapped up a 2-0 win for Bayern Munich as Manchester City left Germany with a few problems on and off the pitch. Edin Dzeko didn't take too kindly to being substituted while Carlos Tevez also seemed to exchange words with City manager Roberto Mancini.

The City manager confirmed that Tevez had refused to play when he asked to go on as a second half substitute, which should confirm the Argentine player leaving the club now. Mancini resisted the temptation to recall Tevez for the match but did include Kolo Toure. The latter was the only change from Saturday’s win over Everton, with Nigel de Jong joining Tevez on the bench as Mario Balotelli was suspended.

Bayern named an exceptionally strong side, including former City defender Jerome Boateng, who stoked the fires in the build-up to the match by claiming the Blues are not good enough to win the Champions League.

Another former City man, Daniel van Buyten, nipped across to prevent Edin Dzeko charging towards the box. When David Silva went down under a rather impetuous challenge from Boateng, it looked a certain penalty.

Yet no one appealed, not even Silva, who quickly got to his feet and carried on. The ball eventually broke to Samir Nasri, whose shot was charged down by Rafinha. Silva sent Micah Richards flying forward on the overlap. He crossed for Dzeko, whose first-time effort was comfortably dealt with by Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

The visitors were showing none of the nerves that might have been expected on such a momentous occasion. Indeed, it was Bayern who took their time to get going, although when they did they might have gone in front if Franck Ribery had got a touch to Thomas Muller’s low cross.

Bayern rather got in each other’s way as Ribery tried to create something on the edge of the box. Shortly afterwards, Bastian Schweinsteiger went for the direct approach and flashed a shot just wide.

Joe Hart was forced into his first meaningful stop to deny Ribery, and the England keeper also got behind Schweinsteiger’s long-range effort, then Muller had a shot deflected over after Ribery had sped past Gareth Barry and rolled a cross into the Germany international’s path.

Ribery then blazed over before City were fortunate to survive getting in a real mess as they tried to play offside when Muller crossed, leaving Schweinsteiger completely free barely six yards out. Amazingly, the midfielder scooped his shot over.

City were living dangerously now though and it was no surprise that Bayern scored on their next attack. No surprise either that Ribery was the architect, lashing another fierce shot goalwards that Hart could not hold. Somehow, Hart prevented Muller tucking home the rebound. But he could not stop Mario Gomez making it third-time lucky as he finished from close range.

Aguero was booked for a foul on Schweinsteiger as City tried to steady the ship, but worse was to come in stoppage time when Toni Kroos fizzed over a free-kick that Van Buyten flicked goalwards. Again, Hart saved. Again, Bayern had another option as Gomez tucked home his second to give the home side a 2-0 at the interval.

Mancini attempted to prevent Bayern’s midfield dominance continuing when he introduced De Jong for Dzeko 10 minutes after the restart. The Blues were staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat.

Muller met Lahm’s cross at the near post but could not turn the ball goalwards, then Kolo Toure headed a dangerous Schweinsteiger corner away from the City box. Amidst all this, it appeared Mancini had a few problems off the pitch to deal with.

Dzeko had clearly not been impressed at being replaced and let his manager know. Then Tevez got involved, with those close to the incident suggesting the Argentina star had refused to warm up, sparking another row with fellow countryman Pablo Zabaleta. Gael Clichy was booked as City’s bad night got worse.

Bayern Munich:Neuer, Rafinha, Van Buyten, Boateng, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Gustavo, Muller, Kroos, Ribery, Gomez. Subs: Butt, Petersen, Robben, Usami, Contento, Alaba, Tymoschuk.

Man City:Hart, Richards, Kompany, Toure, Clichy, Nasri, Barry, Toure Yaya, Silva, Aguero, Dzeko. Subs: Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Lescott, Milner, Kolarov, Tevez, De Jong.

Referee:Viktor Kassai (Hungary)