Bayern Munich 1-0 Manchester City - Five Talking Points

Jerome Boateng beats Joe Hart to score the winner in the 90th minuteBayern Munich kicked off their Champions League campaign with a win over Manchester City, but the Bavarians left it very late. Jerome Boateng's late winner was the difference between the two sides on a night when neither attack looked particularly impressive.Here are the major talking points from the game.

#1 A game that failed to live up to the hype

This was billed as the clash between the attacking flair of Manchester City and the tactical genius of Pep Guardiola. It was the clash that pitted together the Champions of England with the winners of the Bundesliga. This was supposed to be an open, attractive, free-flowing game in which both sides traded blows before one eventually came out on top.

Unfortunately, like most of the big games of the recent past, this one failed to live up to the hype.

For much of the game, it was a clash between two sides who didn't want to relinquish possession and another who didn't look like they wanted to take it from them. There weren't too many clear cut chances for either side and barring Joe Hart's stunning reflex save and Boateng's late winner there was little of note in this game.

But Guardiola wouldn't mind that at all, as he has gotten the side off to a winning start.

#2 Hart to City\'s rescue... Almost

They say that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Given the plethora of attacking talent at Bayern's disposal, it was always going to be a tough ask for City to get anything out of the game.

If they had to, they needed their goalkeeper Joe Hart to be on his A-game and that is precisely what happened at the Allianz Arena. The Englishman came within minutes of keeping a clean sheet, only to be foiled by a former City player in Jerome Boateng.

But, before the goal went in, Hart showed just why he is regarded as the No.1 for both club and country in the foreseeable future. The Englishman was committed and brilliant every time he came off the line and had supreme command of his area, punching or catching any crosses that came his way.

His sublime one-handed save to deny Thomas Müller in the first half, was particularly impressive and the defence in front of him were feeding off his confidence. Although he couldn't quite keep a clean sheet, he certainly left his impact on the game.

#3 Are we witnessing the rebirth of Total Football?

The fact that modern football is a results-driven industry isn't something that is up for debate. But, every so often there comes a team, whose performances and ability on the pitch mean a whole lot more than results.

Some might say that under Pep Guardiola, Bayern Munich have regressed and don't play with the same attacking flair like before and they wouldn't be wrong. Guardiola has always been keen on controlling the game rather than scoring loads of goals, and that has been the case with Bayern as well.

But if the performance against City taught us anything, it is that Guardiola is doing his best to ensure that he leaves a footballing legacy behind. Against the English Champions, Bayern played with so much fluidity that they went from a back-three to a back-four and back again; all in the first half.

In David Alaba, he had a player who started as a left-sided centre back, but as the game went on, he finished as a central attacking midfielder. That sort of tactical fluidity is unheard of in the modern game and while they left it late, their efforts were rewarded in the end.

#4 City need a find to way to win without Yaya Toure

One of the main reasons why Manchester City won the League last time around was because of Yaya Toure. The Ivorian midfielder's goals from central midfield and his ability to dominate games was the cornerstone of City's success last time around.

But so far at least, Touré hasn't been up to the races and that is costing City dear. Against Bayern, Touré looked as though he just couldn't be bothered and was often overrun in midfield. Although there were a couple of lung-bursting runs, the endearing image of the game would be of Touré losing the ball but making no efforts whatsoever to get it back.

While Fernandinho did everything he possibly could to break down the home side's attacks, the Ivorian was a passive observer for much of the game.

There is only so long that City can carry him and if they are to reclaim their title and go into the latter rounds of the Champions League, they need Touré at his best. Or, at least find a way of winning without him.

#5 Bayern lacked penetration going forward

For all of their possession and the fluidity of their play, Bayern Munich seldom gave Hart a proper workout.

Aside from Müller's first-half header and the late winner from Boateng that sailed into the top corner, only David Alaba was able to work the Englishman. Although Bayern had plenty of the ball, they weren't able to create too many clear cut chances and were in the end, thankful that a former City player scored a late winner.

In the first half, there were a couple of occasions in which Bayern went behind the visitors backline but on both occasions, the shot hit the side netting. It was fair to say that Bayern looked far more threatening in the first half than they did in the second.

This wasn't the all-conquering Bayern that won the Champions League in 2013, far from it. This was a Bayern side that at times looked disjointed in attack and even the arrival of Arjen Robben as a late substitute did nothing to change that.

While they won this round, they may not be so lucky next time. The Bavarians will have to find a way to be a more efficient in attack.