Javi Martinez header enough to beat miserable Manchester United

A header from a corner, scored by Javi Martinez, was more than enough to see off Manchester United, whose performance was as pathetic as it was witless. The could not muster a single chance and were lucky to escape with a single-goal defeat.

From kick-off, United sat impractically deep as Bayern dictated, and David de Gea was called upon to make two smart saves. Thiago Alcantara dominated midfield, while Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Serge Gnabry were also lively.

It was goalless at half-time, but after it United showed no change in mentality, intensity or tactics - and also lost the excellent Eric Bailly to a tight hamstring. Bayern continued to dominate thereafter, and eventually Martinez lost Ander Herrera at a corner and headed home from close range.

Even then, United were still absolutely unable to rouse themselves, but escaped a severe beating on account of poor finishing. If they do not improve, though, one is surely around the corner when the serious stuff starts.

What were United trying to do? Bayern are a good team, but United have good players too ... except they refused to exploit them, sitting back and waiting for their opponents to score. Eventually they did, and even then, no response. Inasmuch as a friendly can be described thus, it was an absolutely rotten disgrace, shaming both players and manager.

Thiago Alcantara (Barcelona): Ran the game with clever prompting and movement. He'll have harder games playing solitaire at home.

Bayern Munich: Neuer 6, Kimmich 6, Hummels 6, Sule 7, Alaba 6, Thiago 7, Martinez 7, Muller 5, Robben 6, Gnabry 6, Ribery 6. Subs:Lewandowski 6, Rafinha 7, Bernat 6, Boateng 6, Goretzka 7, Rudy 6, Coman 6.

Manchester United: De Gea 7, Darmian 5, Bailly 7, Lindelof 7, Shaw 5, Pereira 5, Herrera 4, Fred 5, Mata 4, Rashford 5, Sanchez 5. Subs: Grant 6, McTominay 5, Jones 6, Smalling 6, Fosu-Mensah 6, Tuanzebe 6, Mitchell 6, Chong 6, Garner 6.

9’ - SHOVED CLEAR! Lovely from Bayern, Robben darting down the right and feeding Kimmich ahead of him. He cuts back, Gnabry steps over, and Thiago rams a shot which De Geam, unsighted, does well to shove away.

59’ - GOAL! Bayern Munich 1-0 Manchester United (Martinez) Bayern win a corner down the left, which beats Rashford at the near post - who probably mistimes his jump. No one is with Martinez either, who gets away from Herrera and hheads down and across De Gea, into the corner.

81’ - CHANCE! Lovely from Coman, teasing his way past Fosu-Mensah and turning back a cross which Goretzka smacks, on the half-turn, high into the side-netting. Decent effort.

87’ - DISALLOWED! Lovely from Bayern, Coman clipping over the top for Robben, in generations, to volley home. Off he races to leap and prance, in a friendly, only to discover that he was offside - which he probably was, just. It was close.