Lewandowski’s acrobatics keep Bayern perfect while Benfica thwart Barcelona

Bayern Munich, missing half a dozen players to Covid-19 quarantine, edged past Dynamo Kyiv 2-1 to secure top spot in Champions League Group E with a game to spare.

Robert Lewandowski struck with a spectacular 14th-minute overhead kick to put the Bundesliga champions in front amid heavy snowfall in Kyiv. Kingsley Coman then doubled the lead three minutes from half-time.

Dynamo, who are now eliminated from the competition having only managed one point from their five matches, cut the deficit with their first group-stage goal of the season through Denys Garmash with 20 minutes to go to set up a dramatic finish. The Ukrainian side forced Manuel Neuer to make a fine save five minutes later before they were denied by a post in stoppage time as they looked for an equaliser.

Bayern, desperate to bounce back from Friday’s shock 2-1 loss to Augsburg in the Bundesliga, top the group with five wins from five games.

Julian Nagelsmann named just four outfield players on the bench, all youngsters or fringe players, but Lewandowski’s wonderful early goal means he has now scored in nine successive Champions League games.

Barcelona missed the chance to secure second place in Group E behind Bayern as they were held to a goalless draw at home by Benfica. The new manager, Xavi, thought his side had scored a late winner through Ronald Araujo’s volley, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. In stoppage time, Benfica spurned a great chance when Haris Seferovic shot wide after breaking clear on goal.

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In Group F, Atalanta drew 3-3 at the Swiss side Young Boys. Atalanta took the lead through Duvan Zapata in the 10th minute, but Theoson Siebatcheu headed an equaliser from a corner shortly before the break. José Luis Palomino fired Atalanta back in front six minutes into the second half, only for Vincent Sierro to make it 2-2 with 10 minutes left. A spectacular strike from Silvan Hefti had the hosts in front, but Atalanta substitute Luis Muriel clipped in a fine free-kick with his first touch after coming on to rescue a point.

In Group H Malmö and Zenit St Petersburg drew 1-1 in Sweden. Søren Rieks put the hosts in front midway through the first half before Artem Dzyuba saw his penalty saved in the 52nd minute and then had a goal ruled out by VAR for offside on the hour. With four minutes left, Dmitri Chistyakov was sent off for a second caution, but Yaroslav Rakitskyi kept his cool to slot in a stoppage-time penalty after this time the VAR review went in the Russians’ favour.

In Group G, Jonathan David’s first-half goal was enough to give Lille a 1-0 home win against RB Salzburg. Victory moved the French club a point clear at the top. Sevilla beat Wolfsburg 2-0 with an early header from Joan Jordán and Rafa Mir’s stoppage-time strike to close within a point of the Austrian club, as qualification is set to go to the final round of fixtures.