Manchester United and Bayern Munich will be forever linked by a particular night in Barcelona in May 1999. Ever since that incredible match, there has been a connection between the two giants of European football, and in the eyes of Manchester United supporters anyway, the teams are romantically associated.
Bayern Munich 2-2 Manchester United (30/09/1998)
Despite the recent history between the clubs, the first meeting of Bayern Munich and Manchester United didn’t actually happen until September 1998. The match at the Olympic Stadium in Munich was in keeping with United’s Champions League journey during that famous season.
Bayern took the lead after just 11 minutes, through the Brazilian Elber. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side displayed the spirit and belief that would lead them to football’s biggest prize, where previously they might have struggled to match the occasion in the backyard of Europe’s finest. And they soon equalised through the head of Dwight Yorke, after David Beckham had delivered a tremendous cross, even by his standards.
United visibly grew in belief after equalising and took the lead just after half time. Paul Scholes tricked his way beyond the Bayern defence and past Oliver Kahn to prod the Red Devil’s ahead. However, an uncharacteristic mistake from Peter Schmeichel allowed a header from Elber to snatch a late equaliser and ensure the spoils were shared in Munich.
Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich (26/05/1999)
The 26th May 1999, arguably the most famous night in Manchester United’s history and the most unforgettable for any supporters who lucky enough to see it. The match itself wasn’t a classic, it was typically tense Champions League final, but what happened in the game was lost in the final three minutes, 180 seconds of remarkable sporting drama.
As Sir Alex’s team had done throughout their European run that season, if they were to be successful and win a second European Cup, they would have to do it the hard way. Mario Basler’s deflected free kick gave the German side a 6th minute lead. In truth, Bayern looked the most threatening throughout the match and the most likely to score next. United were suffering from a necessary reshuffle of the team, owing to the suspensions of Roy Keane and Paul Scholes. They lacked their usual rhythm and attacking tempo and after Carsten Jancker and Mehmet Scholl had struck the woodwork, it seemed like United were going to fall at the final hurdle.
But the team hung on in there, they never gave up and always felt that they could carve out one chance. Everyone knows what happened in the final moments of the match. From utter despair to unparalleled joy courtesy of goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. That night in Barcelona won’t ever be forgotten and is the defining moment in Manchester United’s rich history. It represented everything the club is about; youth, courage and success.
Manchester United 3-2 Bayern Munich (07/04/2010)
Manchester United and Bayern Munich shared another classic encounter but this time it was one which ultimately ended in disappointment for Sir Alex Ferguson and his players.
It all started so well, the 2-1 deficit from the first leg in Munich was wiped out after just 7 minutes. Darron Gibson had put United into the lead after just 3 minutes with a finely struck effort before Nani produced a delightful flick from Antonio Valencia’s cross to put the Red Devil’s in control.
Nani then smashed home a third to seemingly seal the tie. But just before half time the game and the quarter-final changed. A mix up in defence allowed Ivica Olic to pull a goal back for the visiting team. Rafael was then sent off for a foul on Franck Ribery and the momentum suddenly was in Bayern’s favour.
It took a wonderful finish from Arjen Robben to put Bayern Munich through and send United crashing out, something that seemed unlikely just before the half way mark. Whilst Sir Alex was livid at the result, his opposing manager was on the way to leading Bayern to the final, which they ultimately lost. It wouldn’t be the last time Louis van Gaal would sit in the Old Trafford dugouts.
Manchester United 1-1 Bayern Munich (01/04/2014)
When Bayern Munich arrived at Old Trafford for their quarter-final clash, they were expected to easily overcome a Manchester United side shorn of confidence and belief. The tie represented United’s last realistic chance of qualifying for Europe’s premier competition the following campaign.
After a disastrous season under David Moyes, avoiding a hammering and retaining some of the club’s pride was the best many hoped for United. Yet they produced a dogged and determined display to go into the second leg still hopeful of making the last four.
United rarely had the ball, ending the game with only 26% possession, but proved that having lots of the ball doesn’t necessarily translate into goals. The home side were unfortunate not to take an early lead when Danny Welbeck’s strike was harshly ruled out for a high foot.
Welbeck then missed a glorious chance, chipping his effort into the hands of Manuel Neuer. In hindsight, and it was felt at the time, that the miss would prove to be expensive.
Moyes’ side did take the lead, and increased the belief amongst the supporters, through Nemanja Vidic heading in a Rooney corner. But Bayern grabbed an equaliser 9 minutes later through a fine strike by Bastian Schweinsteiger. The German international was later sent off in added time as the match finished level. United, to everyone’s surprise, were still very much in the tie.
Bayern Munich 3-1 Manchester United (09/04/2014)
Manchester United have never won at the Allianz Arena but for a brief moment in the two side’s last encounter, it felt like they would get a result.
The defeat in Munich ended United’s Champions League hopes and all but sealed the fate of David Moyes. His team had shown remarkable determination in their European quest but a failure to replicate this in the Premier League had made their prospects of playing in the Champions League in 2014/15 almost impossible.
There a certain moments in football where you get that feeling of destiny. That sensation of your dreams being realised, that this is going to be your year. When Patrice Evra fired United into a terrific lead in Munich, on 57 minutes, it felt like one of those special moments. The finish was a superb strike and fittingly named goal of the season. But a lack of concentration, something that had been a hallmark of United’s performance in the first leg, deflated their Champions League dream.
Had United held on for longer than the two minutes between Evra’s opener and Mandzukic’s equaliser, would they have gone through? Who knows but it certainly felt like it at the time. United even had chances to restore their lead, Rooney failing to connect properly with a promising effort.
Thomas Muller turned in Bayern’s second goal and squashed United’s momentum. Arjen Robben scored a fine solo goal to secure the result, evading the back-pedalling defence before slipping the ball inside the far post.
For Man United and David Moyes it was the end of their Champions League hopes, for this season and the next, and we were left remembering Evra’s wonderful goal and thinking, what if?
Watch Nicky Butt, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and the Nevilles re-live the moment they secured the hisotric 1999 Champions League title late in May in 1999.
Comments.
Loading comments…