The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Power Serge
Gnabry to the four as Bayern shock Spurs in 7-2 demolition
Former Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry embarrassed Tottenham as he scored a stunning four goals in Bayern Munich’s 7-2 Champions League victory.
Gnabry, deemed not good enough for English football after spells at the Gunners and West Brom, produced a quartet of clinical finishes after the break to send the German champions soaring clear at the top of Group B.
Robert Lewandowski also added a brace along with Joshua Kimmich’s fine first-half goal as Spurs conceded seven goals at home for the first ever time in a major competition.
Pochettino felt his side started with promise but began to unravel after conceding in the closing moments of the first half.
He said: “I think we dominated the game in the first 30 minutes. (We were) unlucky that we conceded at the end of the first half, in the last minute.
“They were very clinical. We had some chances to score the third and be in the game.”
Elsewhere, Pep Guardiola hailed Raheem Sterling’s goalscoring instinct after he provided the decisive moment in Manchester City’s hardfought win over Dinamo Zagreb.
England forward Sterling came off the bench to break the deadlock in the second half and put City on course for a 2-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium that took them to the top of Group C.
Sterling has improved under Guardiola at City and his 66th-minute strike was his ninth goal of the campaign. He then provided the late assist for Phil Foden to wrap up the scoring in stoppage time.
City boss Guardiola said: “He’s a player who is always there. He has this talent, he loves to score goals. When crosses come he is always there.”
City dominated the opening period but wasted several chances and, without the injured Kevin De Bruyne, were beginning to look laboured until Sterling’s introduction.
Guardiola said: “We had chances but they defended really well and that’s why it was difficult to score a goal.”
Dinamo did prove stubborn opponents but coach Nenad Bjelica admitted his side were second best.
He said: “It was an open match but they are a level above us and they showed that today.”