UEFA Champions League: Manchester City 1 Bayern Munich 3

Bayern Munich secured a club record seventh UEFA Champions League victory in a row with a 3-1 win over Manchester City on Wednesday.

Franck Ribery put the reigning champions ahead seven minutes in before Thomas Muller made it two after the interval.

A first defeat at home for Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini was confirmed when the impressive Arjen Robben got in on the act just before the hour mark, with Alvaro Negredo grabbing the hosts’ consolation late on prior to Jerome Boateng’s dismissal.

Micah Richards started for the first time under Pellegrini, while the Chilean was also able to name Sergio Aguero in his starting XI after the Argentina international missed Saturday’s Premier League defeat to Aston Villa.

David Silva was among the substitutes following his recovery from a thigh injury.

Pep Guardiola opted to play Muller in an advanced role, replacing Mario Mandzukic, while Mario Gotze was named on the bench once more as he continues his return to full fitness following the ankle injury that he sustained in the UEFA Super Cup.

David Alaba made his 25th appearance in the Champions League, more than any other Austrian player in the competition’s history.

Ribery caught City cold early on in the Group D clash as he edged the visitors ahead with a stunning long-range strike.

The France international cut in from the left wing to beat Joe Hart at his near post and set the tone at the Etihad Stadium.

Toni Kroos saw an effort deflected just wide 13 minutes later as Bayern continued to control proceedings.

Robben went close on the half-hour mark as he comfortably went past Matija Nastasic and fired across goal, with Muller unable to get a touch and divert it home.

Bayern enjoyed 67 per cent possession in the first half but it was the home side who began brighter after the interval, keeping the ball well without endangering Manuel Neuer’s goal.

Robben threatened again eight minutes into the half, with the Dutchman’s effort from outside the area deflecting just wide of Hart’s right-hand post.

Muller doubled Bayern’s lead five minutes short of the hour mark after evading Gael Clichy and calmly controlling a long ball from Dante.

With Hart looming, the Germany international rounded the City goalkeeper and tapped home to double the visitors’ lead.

Bayern were three ahead within the hour as Robben capped a fine display with a deserved goal.

After a quick counter, Robben twisted Nastasic inside out before firing past Hart at his near post to put the Bundesliga champions out of sight.

Substitute Negredo pulled a goal back for the home side after being introduced for Edin Dzeko, the close-season signing turning neatly inside the area before curling an effort past Neuer.

Boateng saw red for a foul on Yaya Toure four minutes from time, with substitute Silva striking the crossbar from the subsequent free-kick.