Bayern extend unbeaten run in UCL group stage to record 31 matches

MUNICH (AP) — Leroy Sane scored twice as Bayern Munich set a Champions League record by extending its unbeaten run in group play to 31 matches with a 5-0 win over Czech champion Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday.

Bayern maintained its perfect start to this season's campaign to break Real Madrid's mark of 30 straight group-stage matches without a loss, a streak stretching back to September 2017.

Bayern also hasn't lost at home in Europe's premier competition since a 3-2 defeat to Manchester City in December 2013. Since then, the Bavarian powerhouse has won 25 games and drawn one in Munich.

Bayern recorded 2-0 victories over Inter Milan and Barcelona already in Group C, but it had to face Plzen without Thomas Muller and Joshua Kimmich due to coronavirus infections.

No matter.

Sane opened the scoring in the seventh minute when he coasted past several defenders before unleashing a shot inside the top left corner, and Leon Goretzka pushed the ball through for Serge Gnabry to make it 2-0 in the 13th.

Adam Vlkanova had just tried his luck for Plzen, but Manuel Neuer safely gathered the shot. It was the visitors' only real chance in the first half.

Sadio Mane turned on the style to flick the ball over a defender, then breezed past two more before firing in his first Champions League goal for Bayern in the 21st.

Jamal Musiala thought he had added the fourth in the 37th after a well-worked team move, but the goal was ruled out through VAR as Mane was adjudged to be just offside before playing the final pass.

Coach Julian Nagelsmann took off the impressive Musiala for Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting at the break, perhaps to rest the 19-year-old Germany international for Saturday's Bundesliga "Klassiker" at Borussia Dortmund.

Sane displayed a good first touch to control Mane's cross with the outside of his boot, then wasted no time in sending the ball with his next touch past the helpless Marian Tvrdon in the Plzen goal for Bayern's fourth in the 50th. It was Sane's 16th goal in his last 12 games in the competition.

The Germany winger had endured a difficult start at Bayern, with injuries hampering his impact amid high expectations since joining from City in 2020.

But the fans that once whistled him showed their appreciation Tuesday as Sane went off to thunderous applause in the 58th with Nagelsmann bringing on the 17-year-old Mathys Tel.

Choupo-Moting got the fifth goal a minute later.

Substitute Fortune Bassey provided a rare highlight for Plzen by going close late on.

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