With only a win giving Bayern a chance of automatic progression to the last 16, Vincent Kompany’s side started positively and needed just eight minutes to break the deadlock.
Restored to the starting XI after being left out of the matchday squad for the weekend win over Freiburg, Thomas Muller announced his return with aplomb by heading home Joshua Kimmich’s delightful delivery into the danger zone.
The six-time UCL winners nearly doubled their lead in the 23rd minute, however, Mathys Tel – who surprisingly started alongside Muller despite his future at the club being up in the air – sent a wayward shot over the bar.
Leroy Sane made Dominik Takac make his first meaningful save not long after, with the Slovan goalkeeper expertly thwarting the German’s effort from just outside the area. Despite amassing 15 attempts towards their Slovakian visitors’ goal, the hosts had to settle for a slender half-time advantage.
The one-way traffic continued to move in Bayern’s direction 10 minutes into the second half, with the goal-hungry threat of Sane forcing Takac into making another sublime save.
However, Slovan’s keeper was picking the ball from the back of his net shortly after the hour mark as Jamal Musiala put it on a plate for Harry Kane to head the hosts into a two-goal lead.
Substitute Kingsley Coman rounded off a somewhat satisfactory night for Kompany’s men in the 84th minute by beating Takac with a sublimely-struck shot after an eye-catching team move that sliced open Slovan.
Marko Tolic added a consolation for Slovan in the 90th minute, however, it had no bearing on the result with Bayern having to settle for a place in the two-leg play-off round after underwhelming during the league phase (W5, L3).
Meanwhile, Slovan’s poor campaign has finally come to an end after losing all eight of their matches.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)