Manchester United fell to their fourth defeat in five games after a first half howler from Andre Onana sparked an opening day Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich.
The Cameroon international gifted Bayern an opener in the 28th minute by spilling Leroy Sane’s long-range effort into his own net before Bayern doubled their lead four minutes later through Serge Gnabry, despite United making an impressive early start in the encounter.
Christian Eriksen and Facundo Pellistri – making only his second United start – spurned early chances for the visitors, although Rasmus Hojlund scored his first United goal early in the second half to give Erik ten Hag’s side hope.
However, Bayern restored their two-goal advantage minutes later after a harsh penalty decision was awarded against Eriksen for handball as Harry Kane duly converted the penalty. A late Casemiro consolation gave United hope but substitute Mathys Tel added a fourth for the hosts, and while Casemiro added a third for United in a sensational end; it wasn't enough for the visitors. Here are five talking points from another tough night for United in southern Germany.
In their last four games, Man United conceded twice in the space of four minutes against Bayern, twice in 18 minutes against Brighton, twice in 5 mins against Arsenal and twice in two minutes against Nottingham Forest. This is a theme that must stop.
This has been a longer-running theme of fragility for United, whereby they concede a goal and face adversity but their response is one of panic and a lack of discipline. The same was true lastnight, where a slightly freakish goal was conceded after an impressive 25 minutes and just a few minutes later, their defence lost concentration and conceded another.
In the second half immediately following Kane’s penalty, Sane charged through unmarked into the box and rattled a shot off the post. Promising patterns of play and temporary periods of control will mean nothing if this theme does not stop, and United will keep losing.
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