JOIN USBayern edge City
Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng returned to haunt his former club with a last-gasp goal that secured a 1-0 win over English title holders Manchester City in their opening Champions League Group E clash on Wednesday.
Boateng, who joined Bayern from City in 2011, broke the deadlock in Munich with a powerful shot after the Germans controlled the game, but could not find a way past visiting keeper Joe Hart, who made several superb saves, until the 90th minute.
"I think we had a lot of chances, we wasted many, but we believed until the end," Germany international Boateng told reporters. "The ball came perfectly and I just drilled it in...
"We deserved to win, although City made a good game but it was us who had the chances and it is extremely important to start off with a win."
Elsewhere, Schalke managed to hold Chelsea 1-1 while Roma and Porto enjoyed big wins over CSKA Moscow and Bate Borisov respectively. Barcelona, who last won the competition under Pep Guardiola, eked out a 1-0 victory over Apoel Nicosia.
City, who had come back from two goals down to beat Bayern 3-2 in Munich in the group stage last year, were mostly on the back foot but successfully kept the Germans at bay, with Hart doing his best to keep the scores level until the last minute. Roma are top of the group on goal difference after crushing CSKA Moscow 5-1.
"It was important for the team to win," said Bayern coach Guardiola. "We played well and it was deserved and I am happy to have got the three points. Don't forget we were playing against Manchester City.
Bayern, with winger Franck Ribery out injured and Arjen Robben on the bench, were slow out of the blocks as both teams started cautiously.
There were four changes for City from the team which drew 2-2 with Arsenal on Saturday with suspended Pablo Zabaleta replaced by Bacary Sagna and Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko earning starting spots.
Results: Group E: Bayern Munich: 1 (Jerome Boateng) bt Manchester City: 0; Roma: 5 (Juan Iturbe, Gervinho 2, Maicon, Sergey Ignashevich OG) bt CSKA Moscow: 1 (Ahmed Musa); Group F: Ajax: 1 (Lasse Schone) drew PSG: 1 (Edinson Cavani); Barcelona: 1 (Gerard Pique) bt Apoel Nicosia: 0; Group G: Chelsea: 1 (Cesc Fabregas) drew Schalke: 1 (Klass-Jan Huntelaar); Sporting: 1 (Nani) drew Maribor: 1 (Luka Zahovic); Group H: Athletic: 0 drew Shakhtar: 0; Porto: 6 (Yacine Brahimi 3, Jackson Martinez, Adrian Lopez, Vincent).