Man Utd player ratings vs Bayern Munich - One 7/10 as another gets 4/10 for ‘howler’ - gallery

Manchester United’s difficult start to the new season continued on Wednesday as the Red Devils were beaten 4-3 by Bayern Munich.

The German champions unquestionably deserved the three points as they opened their Champions League group with a win, and the scoreline perhaps doesn't give a full indication of the gap between the sides for long periods of the match.

United actually started the game in the ascendancy and had an early double chance via Facundo Pellistri and Christian Eriksen, with Bayern stopper Sven Ulreich saving the latter’s effort at the near post.

United were brave in possession in the early stages, took up high positions and pushed their full-backs into advanced roles. But when the opening goal came it was the hosts who grabbed it via ex-Manchester City attacker Leroy Sane. The winger exchanged a one-two pass with Harry Kane at the edge of the box and fired towards goal with what appeared to be a relatively tame shot. Yet Andre Onana had a nightmare moment as the ball squeezed through his hands and into the back of the net.

And just four minutes later it was 2-0, as Jamal Musiala flew down the Bayern left and got the better of Diogo Dalot, before cutting the ball back to the waiting Serge Gnabry, who finished first time into the bottom corner.

United did have opportunities to get back into the game with a dangerous Sergio Reguilon cross not met by a team-mate at the back post, while Rasmus Hojlund’s header skewed off target. The half ended with the dangerous Sane curling an effort just wide, as United headed in at the break trailing once again.

But Erik ten Hag's side were handed an almost immediate lifeline after the break when Marcus Rashford teed up Hojlund in the box, and the striker’s shot took a nick off Kim Min-jae and flicked into the goal past Ulreich, to give the summer signing his first goal for the club.

But, like the first half, it took just four minutes for the next goal of the encounter, with Bayern awarded a penalty after Dayot Upamecano headed the ball off the arm of Christian Eriksen inside the box. After a check at the pitchside monitor, the spot-kick was given, and the familiar figure of Harry Kane stood up and confidently stroked his shot into the bottom corner.

It was almost four straight away as Musiala picked out Sane with a defence-splitting pass, but the latter’s instinctive shot hit the outside of the post. From that point on, Bayern controlled proceedings and dominated possession. The German champions forced several saves from Onana, who kept out Kane, Sane, Kingsley Coman and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (twice).

United offered little going in the opposite direction and, excluding a strike which curled off target from Sergio Reguilon, there was little for the visiting fans to get excited about. That was until the latter stages when Casemiro sprinted beyond the United attack, controlled an awkward pass from Anthony Martial and then slipped on the ball. But, while lying sprawled out on the ground, United’s no.18 threw a left leg at the ball in an unorthodox fashion, which managed to just trickle into the bottom corner beyond Ulreich.

As Red Devils pushed for another, it opened the opportunity for Bayern to attack in behind. Thomas Muller hit the post as the game entered injury-time, before Mathys Tel hit his own player with a follow-up effort. The teenager then put the game to bed as he controlled expertly and fired beyond Onana.

That wasn't the last moment in a crazy end to the game , with Casemiro heading home for United in the fifth minute off added-on time at the Allianz Arena. But it was too little, too late for the away team - here's how we rated the United players...