CL 2014: Last-gasp Jerome Boateng goal hands Bayern win over City

Munich: A last-gasp goal from defender Jerome Boateng gave Bayern Munich a 1-0 win over Manchester City in their opening Champions League Group E clash on Wednesday

Boateng broke the deadlock against his former club with a powerful shot after the Germans controlled the game, but failed to crack open a tight defence until the 90th minute.

City, who had come back from two goals down to beat Bayern 3-2 in Munich in the group stage last year, were largely on the backfoot but successfully kept the Germans at bay, with keeper Joe Hart making several crucial saves, until the last minute.

This was the third time in the last four seasons the two teams have been drawn together in the group stage of the competition.

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Bayern, with winger Franck Ribery out injured and Arjen Robben on the bench, were slow out of the blocks as both teams cautiously tried to get a foothold in the game.

There were four changes for City from the team which drew 2-2 with Arsenal on Saturday with suspended Pablo Zabaleta replaced by Bacary Sagna and Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko earning starting spots.

The hosts gradually got on top and almost took the lead when Thomas Mueller sneaked into the box, but Hart parried his powerful header over the bar in the 20th minute.

Seconds later the England keeper pulled off another sensational save to palm Mario Goetze`s deflected effort past the post before City responded with a curling Edin Dzeko shot that sailed narrowly wide.

The English champions, with suspended coach Manuel Pellegrini in the stands and his assistant Ruben Cousillas alone on the bench, successfully closed down space to keep Bayern at bay outside the penalty area.

David Alaba tried his luck twice from long range but again Hart was on hand to rescue his team.

The Bavarians increased the pressure in the second half but had problems cracking open a tight City defence.

The introduction of Robben and forward Claudio Pizarro late in the game helped provide an added impetus and Bayern`s pressure finally told when Boateng fired home.