Report as a goalkeeping howler from Andre Onana allowed Leroy Sane to score Bayern’s opener; Serge Gnabry added second; Rasmus Hojlund scored his first Man Utd goal; Harry Kane scored a penalty shortly after, before late goals from Casemiro and Mathys Tel made for a dramatic finish

Harry Kane scored his first Champions League goal for Bayern Munich as they beat a depleted Manchester United 4-3 in their Group A opener, with three goals in the final six minutes.

The build-up to a famous European tie had focused on Kane’s past transfer links to Man Utd, although the England captain maintained Bayern was always the right destination for him after leaving Tottenham.

But there was still a sliver of irony as he dispatched from the penalty spot for his first Champions League goal for the German side, given after a chaotic and controversial VAR review for a Christian Eriksen handball.

It came shortly after Rasmus Hojlund’s first Manchester United goal (49), which was taken well by the 20-year-old on his own European debut for his new club.

The game looked to be heading towards a comfortable 3-1 win for Bayern, but a topsy turvy final six minutes showed Man Utd have some fight left in them yet. Casemiro (88, 90+5) scored twice, either side of a Mathys Tel fourth for the hosts.

The signs of life will be welcome after – as has often been the case this season – Man Utd created their own problems in defence in the first half. They have now have conceded three or more goals in three consecutive games in all competitions for the first time since December 1978.

It was an Andre Onana howler that saw Leroy Sane (28) open for Bayern, before a fine Serge Gnabry (32) finish doubled the hosts’ lead.

In an honest interview with TNT Sport, Onana owned up to his mistake, saying: “The team was really good but it was because of me we didn’t win this game.

“I have a lot to prove. My start in Manchester has not been good or how I want. The way I played today was one of my worst games.

“It’s difficult as we are a big club who wants to win everything. It was a good opportunity to bounce back after the situation we are facing – it’s a tough time, we have to be together and continue to work hard.”

The Bundesliga champions go top of Group A after Galatasaray and Copenhagen drew 2-2 earlier on Wednesday. Man Utd sit bottom of the group after one game.

How Bayern beat Man Utd in Champions League opener

Image:Man Utd have now lost 18 of their last 35 away matches in all competitions

Manchester United began well at the Allianz Arena. They should have gone ahead inside four minutes when Eriksen sent a fine ball through the six-yard box. But a well-timed tackle from Alphonso Davis stopped Facundo Pellistri from striking, before Eriksen’s follow-up was saved by Sven Ulreich.

Man Utd continued to make life difficult for Bayern, but a poor error from Onana saw the hosts ahead. A threaded ball from Kane found Sane, whose low shot – speculative at best – managed to squirm underneath the goalkeeper’s body and into the back of the net.

Unsurprisingly, a second followed five minutes later. It was sublime play from Jamal Musiala to surge into the box. He then pulled the goal back for a waiting Gnabry, who slotted home into the far corner.

Although Man Utd offered little by way of response in the first half, they hit back four minutes after the break to give themselves a lifeline. Marcus Rashford tapped the ball into Hojlund’s path, and it was a neat finish from the forward into the far corner.

But Man Utd were dealt another harsh hand after Bayern were awarded a penalty soon after. Initially, it appeared as if VAR had dismissed the claims after Dayot Upamecano’s cross hit Eriksen on the top of the arm.

Image:Harry Kane scored from the spot to put Bayern Munich 3-1 up against Man Utd

However, VAR took another look at the incident, eventually sending the referee over to the screen. The penalty was then awarded – to a shake of the head from Erik ten Hag – as Kane expertly dispatched past Onana for his first Champions League goal for Bayern Munich.

Bayern continued to press for another – Sane hitting the post before the Man Utd goalkeeper redeemed himself with a string of saves to deny the likes of Musiala and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.