Magic Musiala lifts Bayern to victory at Galatasaray

Bayern Munich’s English forward #09 Harry Kane (R) celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League group stage football match between Galatasaray and Bayern Munich at the Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi in Istanbul on October 24, 2023. (Photo by YASIN AKGUL / AFP)

Jamal Musiala assisted one and scored another as Bayern Munich won 3-1 at Galatasaray on Tuesday, extending their stellar Champions League group stage record to 17 straight wins.

Musiala charged up the middle of the park to help create the opener for Kingsley Coman early, before Argentina striker Mauro Icardi won and converted a penalty to level the scores.

Musiala, still just 20, laid on a goal for Harry Kane before the England captain returned the favour, allowing the Germany midfielder to get a goal of his own.

“It was an important win” Kane told Amazon Prime immediately after the victory. “They made it difficult for us in the first half but in the second we calmed down a little.”

Fellow goalscorer Coman echoed Kane’s comments, saying “it wasn’t easy, they put plenty of pressure on us — but we got better in the second half.”

Six-time winners Bayern came into the game hoping to protect a remarkable recent record in the Champions League.

The German champions travelled to Istanbul unbeaten in their past 36 matches in the group stages, including 19 away games.

Galatasaray, the only Turkish team to have won a European trophy having lifted the Europa League in 2000, were on a streak of their own, chalking up 17 matches without a loss before Bayern’s visit.

Coman got Bayern off to the best possible start, turning in a pinpoint Musiala pass after just eight minutes, his fourth goal in his past three games for the visiting Germans.

Much of the pre-match talk