Title holders Bayern crush Atletico in Champions League

BERLIN - Bayern Munich started its title defence with a 4-0 triumph over Atletico Madrid after Kingsley Coman provided a brace in Group A of the Champions League's group stage on Wednesday.

Both sides traded attacks from the starting whistle as Robert Lewandowski tested Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak with a volley in the 7th minute before Niklas Sule rattled the woodwork eight minutes later.

Atletico came close at the half-hour mark when Luis Suarez pulled wide after good build-up work from Yannick Carrasco. The visitors remained dangerous on fast breaks, but it was Bayern who opened the scoring moments later as Joshua Kimmich's pinpoint cross allowed Coman to beat Oblak from tight angle.

Diego Simeone's men were stunned whereas Bayern seized its chance and doubled the advantage before half time after Coman's square pass found Leon Goretzka, who made no mistake to tap home at the far post from close range in the 41st minute.

Atletico grabbed a bright start to the second half and thought it halved the deficit in the 47th minute but Joao Felix's long-range effort was ruled offside.

As the match progressed Bayern assumed control again and came close through Thomas Muller, whose volley missed the target just wide at the hour mark.

Six minutes later, Bayern sealed the deal with a 3-0 lead after Corentin Tolisso collected a loose ball after a freekick and unleashed a hammer from 23 meters into the top right corner.

However, the hosts weren't done with the scoring, as Coman danced through Atletico's defence before tapping his second goal of the night past Oblak in the 72nd minute.

With the result, Bayern Munich top Group A followed by Lokomotiv Moskva, FC Salzburg and Atletico Madrid.

"We had a difficult task today, but we mastered this task with ease. We were very efficient. I am overall satisfied as it was important to start with a victory into the competition," Bayern Munich's head coach Hansi Flick said.