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Jerome Boateng celebrates as Pep Guardiola looks on. Photo: EPA

Jerome Boateng's last-minute strike gives Bayern win over Manchester City

Defender returns to haunt his former club with 90th-minute goal in 1-0 victory

Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng returned to haunt his former club with a last-gasp goal that secured a 1-0 win over English title holders Manchester City in their opening Champions League Group E clash on Wednesday.

Boateng, who joined Bayern from City in 2011, broke the deadlock in Munich with a powerful shot after the Germans controlled the game, but could not find a way past visiting keeper Joe Hart, who made several superb saves, until the 90th minute.

“I think we had a lot of chances, we wasted many, but we believed until the end,” Germany international Boateng said. “The ball came perfectly and I just drilled it in ...

“We deserved to win, although City made a good game but it was us who had the chances and it is extremely important to start off with a win.”

City, who had come back from two goals down to beat Bayern 3-2 in Munich in the group stage last year, were mostly on the back foot but successfully kept the Germans at bay, with Hart doing his best to keep the scores level until the last minute.

Roma are top of the group on goal difference after crushing CSKA Moscow 5-1.

“It was important for the team to win,” said Bayern coach Pep Guardiola. “We played well and it was deserved and I am happy to have got the three points. Don’t forget we were playing against Manchester City.

“We played better. We had problems initially to control the game but then we improved. I am satisfied with our performance.”

The introduction of Robben and forward Claudio Pizarro late in the game helped provide an added impetus and Bayern’s pressure finally told when Boateng fired home.

“We fought hard all night against a good team and we had chances all night,” keeper Hart said.

“We knew we going to be in for a tough game. The goal has come from a deflection in the end, and Jerome has come back to haunt us. I think a draw would have been good.”

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