On Robert Lewandowski’s return to Bavaria in the Champions League on Tuesday, Bayern Munich defeated Barcelona 2-0 thanks to two second-half goals in three minutes, including a superb chip from Leroy Sane.
Lucas Hernandez, a French defender for Bayern, headed in a corner to give the home team the lead, but Sane put the game beyond question.
Sane, a former Manchester City forward, helped turn the match, which was heavily in favour of Barca after a frenzied first half, with his goals and assists in Bayern’s 2-0 opening Champions League victory at Inter Milan.
Only three minutes had passed since Bayern’s Hernandez headed in a corner from Joshua Kimmich to open the scoring before the Germany attacker added Bayern’s second goal, chipping the ball over Catalan goalkeeper Marc Andre ter Stegen.
Lewandowski had several chances to start the scoring after receiving warm applause from the home crowd during pregame warmup.
In the 19th minute, Lewandowski pounced on a dipping pass from Pedri but shot too high, barely clearing the top of the crossbar.
One minute later, the Poland forward once more received the ball just yards from Bayern’s goal, but Manuel Neuer saved his header at close range.
After joining from Leeds in the summer, Raphinha started his first Champions League match. After 27 minutes, the Brazilian striker drilled a low shot past a stranded Neuer, but the Brazilian missed the goal by an inch.
On October 26, Bayern plays host to Barcelona for the rematch.
