Bayern Munich run riot to clinch 6-0 win against Hoffenheim

Bayern Munich clinched an emphatic victory away at Hoffenheim to maintain their unbeaten record in Hinrunde.

No Lewandowski, no problem for Bayern Munich. The defending Bundesliga champions wreaked havoc against Hoffenheim at PreZero Arena. However, the win was overshadowed by the bizarre behavior from Bayern fans as the game was suspended for a short period during the second half.

In terms of performance on the pitch, Die Roten won the game by scoring six goals. A brace from Philippe Coutinho and goals from Serge Gnabry, Joshua Zirkzee, Joshua Kimmich, and Leon Goretzka made sure that Bayern has a one-point lead at the top of the table.

Alfred Schreuder made only one change to the team that featured in 1-1 draw against Borussia Monchengladbach last weekend. Moanes Dabour made way for Ihlas Bebou in the number nine position.

Meanwhile, Hansi Flick was forced to make two changes to the starting XI that clinched a 3-0 win against Chelsea. Joshua Zirkzee got his first start for the first team, replacing the injured Robert Lewandowski. Philippe Coutinho replaced the injured Kingsley Coman on the left side of the attack. Javi Martinez also returned to the squad after being out of action for two months due to injury.

Die Roten started the game in the best possible way, pressing Hoffenheim’s defense with vigour. Their persistence was rewarded in the second minute as Serge Gnabry smashed the ball in the net after Thomas Muller delivered a pinpoint cross at the back post.

Even before Hoffenheim could recover from the early setback, Rekordmeister doubled their lead in the seventh minute. Joshua Kimmich pounced on a loose ball at the edge of the box and hammered past Oliver Baumann.

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Joshua Zirkzee marked his first start for the club with a well-taken goal in the 15th minute. Gnabry blasted a cross from the right flank, and Zirkzee showed great composure to put it past Baumann. Hoffenheim never settled in the game as they had to cope with wave after wave of attacks from Die Roten. Bayern rounded off a superb half with a fourth goal at the half an hour mark as Philippe Coutinho curled the ball past the keeper.

The game was once again won in the first half, but Die Roten’s intensity didn’t drop a bit after the break. Coutinho immediately opened the scoring in the second half as Muller once again created a goal with an accurate cross. Flick decided to rest his star men as he brought off Jerome Boateng at half time for Corentin Tolisso. Muller and Alphonso Davies were also given a break, as Leon Goretzka and Lucas Hernandez replaced them around the hour mark.

Goretzka made an immediate impact as Die Roten scored the sixth goal of the game. An eye-pleasing goal as the move started from Bayern’s box and ended in Hoffenheim’s goal. Gnabry was relentless throughout the game as he kept on creating chances from the right flank.

Next. Five ways Bayern can tackle Lewandowski’s absence. dark

The game was suspended for ten minutes after Bayern fans held banners insulting Dietmar Hopp. After the game resumed, both teams just passed the ball to each other to kill the game. The victory turned sour for Bayern due to the way away fans reacted. In terms of the result, it was a brilliant victory as it sets them up for a month without Lewandowski. The defending Bundesliga champions will now turn their attention to DFB Pokal as they face Schalke in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.

"Hoffenheim (4-2-3-1)BaumannRudy- Hübner- Nordtveit-ZuberSamssekou-GrillitschSkov-Baumgartner-Bruun LarsenBebouSubstitutes- Pentke, Kaderabek,Bicakcic, Akpoguma, Ribeiro (↑Bruun Larsen(30′)), Posch, Kramaric (↑Zuber (45′)), BeierBayern Munich (4-2-3-1)NeuerPavard- Boateng- Alaba-DaviesKimmich- ThiagoGnabry- Müller- CoutinhoZirkzeeSubstitutes- Ulreich , Odriozola, Martínez, Cuisance, Goretzka (↑Muller(56′)), Hernández (↑Davies(63′)), Tolisso (↑Boateng(45′)), Batista-Meier"