Bayern Munich exacted revenge for their 1999 Champions League final defeat at the hands of Manchester United by beating the Premiership champions 1-0 at Old Trafford in the first-leg of their quarter-final tie tonight. As had happened in the final two years ago, the deciding goal came late and from a substitute, only this time it was the German side celebrating a sweet victory. Paul Sergio finally broke the deadlock five minutes from time after Bayern had thrown everything they had at United during the second-half.
Although an away victory in Bayern's Olympic Stadium in a fortnight's time is not beyond the capabilities of Alex Ferguson's side, the German team will be favourites to reach the semi-finals after they outclassed United in the second 45-minute period. Up until the break, the sides looked fairly even with both creating plenty of half-chances. Andy Cole came closest to scoring for United in the opening half, but he mis-hit a volley from close range. Bayern too were unforunate not to go in at the break a goal up after Patrick Andersson's header was cleared off the line by Paul Scholes.
However, the story of the first half was not any scoring opportunity but David Beckham's yellow card - his third of the tournament - for a foul on Steffan Effenberg, which rules him out of the return leg at the Olympic Stadium.
Following the interval, Bayern upped the tempo and United keeper Fabien Barthez found himself severely tested by the Germans, particularly Jens Jeremies. Although Bayern were creating the better scoring chances, United were not without chances of their own to go ahead. When a blistering shot from Silvestre was only punched away Kahn, Coles turned on the ball to supply Scholes but the ball was nicked away from the England international's feet at the last second. Ireland's captain Roy Keane also went close but as the game wore on, Bayern looked the more likely to open the scoring and so they did.
Sergio's chance arrived when Effenberg's free-kick reached him in the box with only Barthez to beat and it proved to be too late for United to recover. In fact, Bayern came close to extending their advantage to two goals when another substitute Alexander Zickler struck the bar in stoppage time.
The one consolation for Ferguson is that two of Bayern's stars - Hasan Salihamidzic and Bixente Lizarazu - will also miss the return leg in two weeks' time because of suspension.
Meanwhile, there was plenty of drama in tonight's other Champions League quarter-final between the UEFA Cup champions Galatasaray and current Champions League holders Real Madrid. The Spanish side took the lead at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium through Ivan Helguera and added another before the half-time break through Claude Makelele.
However, the second-half produced a most unlikely turnaround. A successful penalty-kick by Umit Davala put Galatasaray on their way and two more goals from Hasan Sas and Mario Jardel earned them a sensational win, creating a thrilling prospect for the return leg at the Bernebeu in a fortnight.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
