Bayern Munich 3-1 Manchester United: Reds go close, but not close enough

Manchester United suffered defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena to leave David Moyes' debut season a trophyless one.

United had a big ask to win going into the game, but proved a worthy match for their opponents, taking the lead through Patrice Evra's stunning strike. Yet less than a minute later, Bayern had equalised through Mario Mandzukic, before Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben scored a pair of soft goals to take the hosts through.

Bayern were off to a sloppy start as United looked more comfortable than might have been expected, and the first chance of the game fell to Wayne Rooney who drove at the Bayern defence down the middle, but dawdled on the ball and eventually thumped his shot into the defender with Shinji Kagawa well-positioned for a pass.

Bayern were seeing more of the ball, but were not really creating any clear chances, and United had the ball in the net through Antonio Valencia after he got on the end of Evra's cross, but the goal was rightly ruled out for offside. With United successfully keeping Bayern at arm's length, some textbook greed from Robben closed out the half as thoughts turned to how United would get a goal.

United continued to stay in the game after the break, and remarkably found themselves ahead on 57 minutes when Antonio Valencia's cross found Evra, who lashed an unstoppable effort in off the bar to send United wild with delight. It was glorious, but unfortunately it was also brief - just 22 seconds later, Bayern had equalised, when Mandzukic headed in a simple cross from kick-off.

Rooney then missed easily the best chance of the game after good work from Welbeck found him in the area, but the supposed Talisman scuffed an awful effort wide with the goal gaping, more or less summing up a rotten night. And United were soon made to pay, as Robben used his right foot to provide a simple centre for Muller, who got goalside of Vidic and scuffed his effort past David de Gea.

United needed a goal, but since the rapid exchange of the first two, had looked more dangerous going forwards but also much more open at the back. And on 76 minutes, Robben cut inside and did what he does best, his shot deflecting off Vidic to take it just out of the reach of De Gea and leave United with two goals to score in the remaining time.

United could not get forward as much with Bayern now perfectly content to shut up shop, and the hosts were fairly comfortable in seeing out the victory. A brave performance from United, certainly better than we would have expected over the two legs, particularly given the injuries, but there must also be the counterpoint that tonight represented a big opportunity missed. What was it we injected Rooney with, exactly?