Manchester United rounded off their preparations for the 2018-19 campaign with a 1-0 defeat to German champions Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Sunday night.
Spanish midfielder Javi Martinez scored the only goal of the match just before the hour, and it was no less than the Bundesliga giants deserved due to their domination on the night.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
6.16pmEvening all! Sports Mole's live pre-season coverage continues from the Allianz Arena, and it is a real cracker of a match as German giants Bayern Munich welcome the mighty Manchester United. Both of these teams are preparing for the start of the domestic seasons, and this will be United's final fixture before opening their Premier League campaign at home to Leicester City at Old Trafford on Friday night. Stay tuned for what should be a very entertaining game of football!
6.19pmTonight will be the first time that Bayern and United have met since they locked horns in the quarter-finals of the 2013-14 Champions League. The pair played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Old Trafford, before Bayern recorded a 3-1 win on home soil to make the semi-finals. There are no points or prizes on offer tonight, but it is still a big game for both teams in terms of preparation.
6.22pmRight, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the team news from the Allianz Arena. Just how strong are Bayern tonight? What about United, will this XI be similar to the one that faces Leicester? I can confirm a certain Alexis Sanchez skippers the Red Devils. Let's have a look...
6.25pmTEAMS!
BAYERN: Neuer; Kimmich, Sule, Hummels, Alaba; Thiago, Martinez, Ribery; Gnabry, Muller, Robben
UNITED: De Gea; Darmian, Lindelof, Bailly, Shaw; Fred, Herrera, Pereira; Mata, Rashford, Sanchez
6.28pm
📍🏟 #AllianzArena #FCBMCFC pic.twitter.com/GEjzJ4rFVu
— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) August 5, 2018
6.32pmWell, Bayern are very, very strong tonight. There is no Robert Lewandowski in the XI, but Thomas Muller, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery all start in the final third of the field. There is also a position for former Arsenal youngster Serge Gnabry, while Manuel Neuer plays behind a strong back four of Joshua Kimmich, Mats Hummels, Niklas Sule and David Alaba. Very strong indeed!
6.35pmAs for United, Alexis Sanchez will captain the 20-time English champions tonight. Victor Lindelof and Marcus Rashford, meanwhile, are back early from World Cup duty, and both make the XI. Andreas Pereira has been terrific during pre-season, and it is not a surprise that the midfielder starts alongside Fred and Ander Herrera in the middle of the park. Matteo Darmian also make the team.
6.38pm
Mourinho: 'My CEO knows what I want for quite a long time, he knows what I want, I know that he tries to do the best for me and I still have a few days to wait what is going to happen... If we don't make our team better it will be a difficult season for us.' #mufc
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) August 5, 2018
6.42pmRight, the teams are in, and we are just about 30 minutes from kickoff at the Allianz Arena. As mentioned, this is United's final pre-season game ahead of their Premier League opener against Leicester on Friday. It would be fair to say that Mourinho is not too happy with the quality in his squad at the moment, but United simply have to hit the ground winning when they take on Leicester.
6.45pmUnited opened their pre-season with a 1-1 draw against Club America on July 20, before drawing 0-0 with San Jose Earthquakes in their next match. A 1-1 draw with AC Milan followed, before United suffered a 4-1 defeat to Liverpool. Their pre-season tour of the United States did end with a positive result, however, as they recorded a 2-1 win over Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
6.48pmAs mentioned, United kick off their Premier League season against Leicester on Friday night, before visiting Brighton & Hove Albion in their second match on August 19. The month of August ends with a home game against Tottenham Hotspur on August 27, and Mourinho will hope that he will have Toby Alderweireld in place to take on his former club in that particular match.
6.52pmThis really is a special, special football stadium...
#NewCoverPhoto #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/B0Ya5TvHPn
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) August 5, 2018
6.55pmBayern, meanwhile, opened their pre-season with a 3-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain on July 21, before losing 2-0 to Juventus and 3-2 to Manchester City. The German champions do not actually open their league campaign until August 24, but have the German Super Cup and first round of the German Cup to come, in addition to another friendly against Hamburger on August 15.
6.58pmBoth managers will have changes as the match progresses tonight, but Bayern have gone with a very strong XI from the start. United are ahead of the German club in terms of their preparation for the new campaign, but Bayern will fancy their chances of picking up a positive result here.
7.02pmGood to see Rashford and Lindelof back with their United teammates...
#MUFC step out on to the pitch. #FCBMUN pic.twitter.com/O18d67NFBV
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 5, 2018
7.05pmJust about 10 minutes until kickoff at the Allianz Arena, and the players will soon emerge from the tunnel. As mentioned, Bayern are very strong tonight, while Mourinho has also selected what could be very close to the XI that faces Leicester. Still no Paul Pogba or Romelu Lukaku for the Red Devils, while Nemanja Matic is on the sidelines after undergoing surgery last month.
7.08pmIt will be very interesting to see whether Rashford or Sanchez starts through the middle tonight. Anthony Martial played some football on the US tour at centre-forward, but the Frenchman has not travelled to Germany amid suggestions that he will leave Old Trafford before Thursday's transfer deadline. Martial's relationship with Mourinho has completely broken down.
7.12pmHere we go then; both sets of players have joined us on the field ahead of what is a very interesting pre-season friendly. Let's hope for an open and entertaining match in Munich.
0 minKICKOFF: Bayern kick things off on home soil...
2 min... Rashford is through the middle for United tonight, with Sanchez on the left and Mata on the right. It has been a fairly open start, with Darmian already delivering a dangerous cross into the Bayern box. Down the other end, Bailly showed his excellent strength to nudge Ribery off the ball.
4 minGnabry has started through the middle for Bayern, meanwhile, with Muller dropping into midfield. De Gea is forced into action for the first time tonight as he collects a dangerous cross from Kimmich. It has been an open start with both teams enjoying possession of the football.
6 minDarmian breaks down the right for United before delivering a dangerous cross into the box, but Hummels is on hand to make the clearance. Bayern then break down the other end, and Bailly deals with the threat of Gnabry. Plenty happening in the early stages of this match.
7 minSAVE! Smart save from De Gea to keep out a strike from Thiago.
9 minRobert Lewandowski is on the bench for Bayern tonight, and I suspect that we will see the Poland international at some point tonight. United are one of a number of clubs to be linked with the striker, while Real Madrid are also believed to be keen on signing him. Bayern say no deal though.
10 minKimmich is still down for Bayern after taking an elbow in the face from Sanchez.
12 minRashford breaks into a wide position before delivering low to the edge of the box, but the ball just runs away from Darmian. United keep hold of it though, and the pressure is still on Bayern.
14 minUnited are just starting to have more of the ball at the moment as Fred and Pereira dictate the play in the middle of the park. Nothing much for Neuer to worry about thus far though.
16 minNow Bayern are having a spell in possession as United sink into a defensive shape here.
18 minBailly again shows his strength to push Alaba off the ball, and the left-back does not get the free kick that he wants. Gnabry then drives at Lindelof moments later, and the United centre-back does well to force the former Arsenal youngster off the ball. Still goalless in Munich.
19 minSAVE! Decent save from De Gea to keep out a strike from Gnabry.
21 minNot an awful lot to report in terms of attacking football from United at the moment, with Bayern doing most of the pressing in the final third. De Gea has had to make two decent stops tonight.
23 minMore defending from United as Kimmich breaks down the right, with Shaw clearing behind. Bayern force another corner moments later, but Bailly is on hand to make the clearance.
25 minRobben hits one from outside the Bayern box, but his effort was always moving wide of the post. Nothing much from United going forward at the moment, with Sanchez, Mata and Rashford all struggling to get into the match. There is no question that Lukaku is a big miss for United.
27 minStill Bayern press in the final third of the field, but United are defending well at the moment, with Mata back in the right-back area this time to clear for yet another Bayern corner. Still 0-0.
29 minHalf-chance for Robben this time as Martinez delivers a dangerous cross into the United box, but Pereira does well to just edge out the Dutchman. Little over 15 minutes of the first period left to play, and Neuer has not had a save to make. Not much attacking intent from the visitors.
30 minTime for a water break, which has become a feature of pre-season matches. There were also a couple in the Community Shield earlier as temperatures continue to rise across Europe.
32 minWe are back underway in Munich, and both managers had something to say to their players during the water break. I suspect that Bayern will make a number of changes at the break, but Mourinho might want to keep these players on the field for 60 minutes or so tonight.
34 minLittle over 10 minutes of the first period remaining, and we are still level at 0-0 here.
36 minPossession for Bayern in United's half of the field, but nothing much for De Gea to worry about. Both teams have lacked that little bit of quality in the final third of the field thus far tonight.
38 minMartinez strikes over the United crossbar following a scramble which had seen Bailly and Darmian both attempt to clear the ball. Still just the two saves for De Gea to make tonight.
40 minBailly continues to clear the danger, with the United centre-back denying Ribery on this occasion. Bailly struggles with injury last term, but is looking very good at the moment.
41 minSAVE! Sule's strike takes two deflections, and De Gea has to make a really good save!
43 minJust a reminder that Bayern are expected to make a number of changes at the break. Stick with me while I sort that out in the early stages of the second half as many teams helpfully just put the players on the field without announcing them! The joy of pre-season football.
43 minOh my word! Ribery makes a total mess of it at the far post, with the Frenchman striking thin air when he had space inside the United box. Not quite sure what happened there.
45 minDarmian does well to challenge Ribery when the Bayern attacker was in a dangerous position. It leads to another corner for the home side, but United clear their lines once again. Still 0-0.
45+1 minHummels delivers a dangerous cross into the United box, but it is too strong for both Muller and Kimmich. I should not think that there will be too much added time at the end of the first period.
45+2 minHALF TIME: BAYERN MUNICH 0-0 MANCHESTER UNITED
8.02pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 0-0. There is no question that Bayern have been the more productive in the final third of the field, but De Gea has not been overly concerned tonight. Nothing much from United in attack, however.
8.07pmBENCH WATCH! As mentioned, Bayern are expected to make wholesale changes at the break. The likes of Boateng, Bernat, Rafinha, Lewandowski and Rudy should all feature, while summer arrival Goretzka will also hope to play a part. As for United, Mourinho has options in the shape of Chong, Greenwood, Smalling, Jones and McTominay. Will the Red Devils boss make changes at the break?
8.12pmNo shots on target from United in that first half, and it would be fair to say that they struggled in the final third of the field once again. Sanchez has been excellent during pre-season, but Mata and Rashford have found it difficult to make their mark. Will this be the team that faces Leicester? Well, it is unlikely that Lukaku will be thrown straight into the XI having not trained.
46 minKICKOFF: United resume the action in Munich...
47 minCHANCE! Gnabry breaks into the United box, but his effort did not have the power to beat De Gea!
48 minBAYERN SUBS! Lewandowski, Goretzka and Boateng are on for Bayern. Boateng has taken the place of Hummels, while Lewandowski and Goretzka replace Ribery and Muller.
49 minBailly looks to have a problem for United as he goes down.
50 minBailly is back on his feet, but he might well be replaced. There is no point in taking a risk on the centre-back this close to the start of the new Premier League campaign.
51 minBailly is back on so it cannot have been that bad. Bayern continue to dominate the ball.
51 minUNITED SUB! Nope. Bailly goes off. Smalling is his replacement.
53 minShaw breaks into the Bayern box, but the left-back seems to panic and ends up choosing the wrong option. The Englishman had a decent chance to pull the trigger there!
54 minCHANCE! Big chance for Bayern to take the lead as Goretzka meets a corner from Robben, but the midfielder heads over the crossbar. Really should be 1-0 to the German champions here.
56 minUnited are struggling to get out of their own half at the moment as Bayern continue to pass and probe in the final third of the field. Neuer might as well not been in the Bayern goal tonight.
56 minBAYERN SUB! Bernat replaces Alaba for the home side.
58 minLittle over 30 minutes of the second period remaining, and we are still level at 0-0. You do get the feeling that a goal will arrive, but United have offered hardly anything in the final third.
59 minGOAL! BAYERN MUNICH 1-0 MANCHESTER UNITED (MARTINEZ)
60 minBayern make the breakthrough just before the hour as Martinez rises highest inside the United box to head a corner into the back of the net. Rashford just got caught under the ball.
60 minBAYERN SUBS! Rafinha and Coman replace Thiago and Gnabry.
62 minFred fires an effort well wide of the post. At least it is a shot from United!
64 minSanchez looks to find Rashford with a deep cross, but Bernat is on the cover to head into the arms of his own goalkeeper. United are preparing to make a triple change in Munich.
65 minUNITED SUBS! McTominay, Jones and Fosu-Mensah take the places of Mata, Rashford and Darmian as Mourinho makes a triple change with 65 minutes on the clock.
67 minBayern continue to dominate the ball as we head for the final 20 minutes of football here.
69 minYELLOW CARD! Boateng (Bayern) has just chopped McTominay to the deck to pick up a card.
70 minTime for another water break, and Bayern are going to make another change.
71 minBAYERN SUB! Rudy replaces Kimmich for Bayern.
73 minLittle over 15 minutes of the match remaining, and United have not had a meaningful chance in this game, which is so disappointing. Bayern deserve their lead - there is no doubt about that.
75 minCHANCE! Lewandowski spins outside the United box before striking, but his effort is just too high.
77 minBayern are camped inside United's half of the field at the moment, with no signs that is going to change in the final 10 minutes or so. More changes are expected to occur before the night is out.
79 minUNITED SUBS! Grant, Chong, Tuanzebe and Mitchell replace De Gea, Shaw, Lindelof and Fred. Mourinho using his bench once again as we head for the final 10 minutes.
81 minDecent pressure from United following a corner, but Bayern manage to clear their lines. At least the likes of Chong and Mitchell will give United some pace and movement late on here.
82 minCLOSE! Goretzka just misses the goal with a clever attempt from inside the box!
82 minUNITED SUB! Garner replaces Herrera for United.
84 minCHANCE! Big chance for Bayern to score a second as Rafinha delivers a low cross towards Goretzka, but the midfielder somehow fails to convert. Really should have been a second for Bayern.
86 minPossession football from Bayern as we head for the final moments here.
88 minJust a reminder that United open the new Premier League season against Leicester on Friday night. It is going to be just fascinating to see what kind of shape they are in for that one.
88 minDISALLOWED GOAL! Robben turns home from close range, but the goal is ruled offside!
90 minBayern continue to pass and probe, and the home side really should be clear winners in this match. As it stands, just a Martinez header separates the two teams on the night.
90+1 minFULL TIME: BAYERN MUNICH 1-0 MANCHESTER UNITED
9.07pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Bayern running out 1-0 winners courtesy of that second-half header from Martinez. United now march on to the Leicester match! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our coverage once again! Until next time!
