Vincent Kompany was on the end of a first competitive defeat this season, with Bayern Munich going down to an Aston Villa side for whom Jhon Duran netted a 79th minute winner to settled a closely-fought affair.

Aston Villa 1-0 Bayern Munich 
Goals: 1-0 Duran 79' (assist: Torres)

These sides' only previous meeting came in the 1982 European Cup final, in which Villa triumphed. Bayern - fresh from a 1-1 draw against Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen at the weekend - looked to avert a slip-up at the home of the Premier League outfit this time around by taking the game to their opponents early on. Kane tested the reflexes of goalkeeper Emi Martínez with a close-range header, before Villa found the net through Pau Torres. The problem on both of those occasions, was that each event was declared null and void because of respective offsides. Villa's cause was then hampered by the loss of Jacob Ramsey, before Bayern went close with a stinging Michael Olise drive that Martínez palmed over. The clear-cut chances in the opening 45 minutes failed to flow, yet that didn't stop this even contest from fascinating the packed crowd inside Villa Park. 

Bayern and Villa produced 12 goals between them in respective Matchday 1 wins, however, an opener here often looked a distant prospect. Kompany introduced livewire Jamal Musiala at the break as the visitors sought to inject some extra pace into proceedings. The Germany international was soon combining with Kane, but failed to keep his footing at the crucial moment when in on goal. Just when the sides appeared set on a path for a scoreless draw, Unai Emery's men struck with the winning goal eleven minutes from time. A long ball from Pau Torres found the onrushing John Duran, who spotted Manuel Neuer stranded at the edge of hia area. The Villa substitute duly lifted the ball over the Bayern keeper and in, to the unbridled delight of the the home fans. Martínez then denied Mathys Tel and Kane at the death to ensure a second win of the league phase for the Villains. After a first defeat of the season for Bayern, the Bundesliga giants will need to lift themselves in this competition with a visit to Barcelona pencilled in for 23 October. 

 

Match stats

  • The Bavarians faced Aston just once before, in the 1981/82 European Cup final. On that occasion, the English side were victors, triumphing 1-0 to lift the trophy for the first and only time.
  • Villa lost their previous game against German opposition, going down 3-1 to Hamburg in their 2008/09 UEFA Cup groups. They have now won their other four.
  • Bayern are six-time European champions, last winning the Champions League in 2019/20.
  • After defeating Zagreb on Matchday 1, Bayern have now won their opening Champions League game in each of the past 20 seasons - a competition record.
  • Leon Bailey registered 28 goals and 21 assists in 119 Bundesliga appearances for Bayer Leverkusen, including three goals in nine league meetings with Bayern.

Teams

Villa: Martínez (c) - Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne - Tielemans, Onana (Barkley 59') - Philogene, Rogers, Ramsey (Bailey 27') (Maatsen 60') - Watkins (Duran 70')
Unused subs: Gauci, Zych, Cash, Buendía, Nedeljković, Bogarde, Swinkels, Young
Out: Kamara (knee), McGinn (hamstring), Mings (knee)
Coach: Unai Emery

Bayern: Neuer (c) - Kimmich, Upamecano, Kim (Goretzka 86'), Davies - Laimer (Tel 86'), Pavlović (Palhinha 76') - Olise (Sané 66'), Coman (Musiala 46'), Gnabry - Kane
Unused subs: Peretz, Ulreich, Dier, Guerreiro, Müller
Out: Boey (meniscus), Ito (ankle), Stanišić (knee)
Coach: Vincent Kompany