Barça 2-0 Bayern: Fine start to UEFA Youth League

Barça got the UEFA Youth League off to a fine start by beating Bayern Munich 2-0 at the Estadi Johan Cruyff, coping with the nerves brilliantly and making the most of an extra man in most of the second half.

With a 4-3-3 system and very clear ideas, and having already come close from a Zaca header, the Catalans finally took the lead when Luzzi used his wits to cunningly rob Hülsmann of the ball and tap into an empty net.

Barça were very good value for their lead, and their hopes were boosted even further when Bayern’s Behar Neziri was red carded for a tackle on Arnau Solà.

The blaugrana dominance was greater than ever, and on the hour mark there was a carousel of chances that stayed out by a miracle. Although Hülsmann was making some top saves in the German goal, he couldn’t hold out forever, and he was eventually beaten when Arnau Casas latched onto a Miki Juanola cross to make it two.

A third goal looked more on the cards than a Bayern comeback, and Casas actually had it in injury time but the offside flag was up.

So, the perfect start to the campaign for Barça. They are joined on three points by Dynamo Kyiv who saw off Benfica in surprisingly comfortable fashion, winning 4-0 in the Ukraine.

MATCH STATS

Barça: Arnau Rafus, Miquel Juanola, Arnau Casas, Chiad Raid, Arnau Solà, Marc Casado, Ilias Akhomach (Josep Cerdà, min 76), Aleix Garrido (Alastuey, min 76), Fabian Luzzi (Barberà, min 56), Txus Alba (Alex Valle, min 90), Zacarias Ghailan (Estanis, min 56).
Bayern Munich: Hülsmann, Arrey-Mbi, Denk, Wenig (Pavlovic, min 46), Copado, Neziri, Salihamidzic, Ibrahimovic (Krätzig, min 76), Herold (Sanyang, min 90), Sieb (Aitamer, min 69), Kabadayi (bregner, min 90).

Goals: 1-0, Luzzi (min 24); 2-0, Arnau Casas (min 65).