Manchester City's Joe Hart shows why he is England's No.1
Here he was, spectacularly thwarting the mercurial powers of Thomas Müller, Arjen Robben and co. Much has been made of Hart's performances but the critics were silenced here.
He was magnificent at the Allianz Arena. City are indebted to their No 1 for a plethora of world-class saves, most notably from Thomas Müller and Jerome Boateng who proceeded to strike a throbbing blow.
This was brutal on Hart, who had athletically repelled Bayern’s hazardous advances. He was left, right and tipping goal-bound efforts over his crossbar. With City within 60 seconds of a precious point in a tough Group E, Boateng struck, the ball looping over an impotent Hart.
Sagacious Pellegrini
Manuel Pellegrini was up in the smart seats of the Allianz Arena, serving the second of his three-match UEFA ban. Hart's next examination will come against a Chelsea team led by Diego Costa and co and the last time the two clubs met. Hart will not cherish his memories of fixtures against Chelsea, experiencing one of the worst moments of his career at Stamford Bridge last year.
After a string of errors last season, Pellegrini acquiesced to the calls to drop Hart yet his man-management was exemplary. Instead of publicly criticising him, the sagacious Chilean quietly lectured Hart, gradually resurrecting his confidence and self-belief. It is a masterstroke worthy of inclusion in UEFA Pro Licence courses.
Hart's goalkeeping drills were sharp and testing, sagaciously devised by City's goalkeeping coach Xabier Mancisidor. In tandem with Pellegrini, Mancisidor was key in resurrecting Hart's damaged confidence.
Almost instantly, Hart was called into action. Bayern were quick and stylish, Thomas Müller latching onto Robert Lewandowski's intelligent. Hart was sagacious, opting to close down Muller's target rather than recklessly lunging in.
Hart rescued City again, acrobatically tipping Müller's powerful, dipping header over the crossbar. Juan Bernat delivered an enticing cross and Müller towered above Vincent Kompany and Martin Demichelis, his header forcing Hart to leap magnificently into the Bavarian air.
City’s last shield
As Bayern dominated, Hart represented City's last shield, intercepting a ball Müller almost latched onto before denying a deflected effort from Mario Götze. The ball ricocheted off Kompany, forcing Hart in a sudden dive to make up the ground.
He was a commanding presence, towering sanguinely above Müller and Lewandowski to gather the ball and extinguish the fire fuelled by Bayern's glided trident of Götze, Lewandowski and Müller.
Hart continued to defy his critics, retaining his composure to narrow down Lewandowski's shooting target as the Pole shimmered with danger. Threaded in by Alaba, Lewandowski seized upon the through ball and attempted to round Hart yet City's No 1 was equal to the task.
Hart was kept on alert, only permitted moments of direly needed respite. He saved comfortably from Götze before tipping Bernat's mysterious effort over the bar. Whether the former Valencia winger's strike was an effort on goal or a cross is debatable but the importance of Hart's touch, to elevate the ball above the crossbar, is not.
Hart was crucial in weathering the late Bavarian storm. His catch of Bernat's speculative effort was unconvincing, and potentially dangerous, bur he quickly atoned, producing enviable reactions to thwart Müller.
Then came the save of the lot, one of substance and excellence. Boateng's powerful, swerving strike was unexpected but Hart's reaction was outstanding, exceling to cover the width of the goal and stretch a powerful hand to deny his former City colleague.
Yet Boateng would not be stopped again, securing three precious points for Bayern through a stunning strike. Hart was impotent as the ball dipped ferociously, the deflection of Gotze leaving him helpless.
He emerged with his head held high but his excellence cruelly unrewarded.