Reds beat Ingolstadt in all-Bavaria derby

FC Bayern maintained their perfect start to the Bundesliga campaign, downing FC Ingolstadt 3-1 in Saturday's all-Bavaria derby at the Allianz Arena. Lezcano put Ingolstadt in the lead early into the contest, but the Munich men soon replied, with Ribéry's perfectly-weighted through-ball inviting Lewandowski to net a glorious chip over FCI keeper Nyland. Alonso put the hosts in front in the early stages of the second interval, crashing a sumptuous angled 25-yarder into the net. Rafinha closed out the meeting in the closing stages with a low drive into the far corner from the edge of the box.

The Bayern line-up featured Manuel Neuer between the sticks behind a back four of Rafinha, Joshua Kimmich, Javi Martínez and Juan Bernat. Milestone man Arturo Vidal, who made his 150th Bundesliga appearance on Saturday, Xabi Alonso and Renato Sanches took up station in midfield, with Kingsley Coman and Franck Ribéry acting out wide looking to serve striker Robert Lewandowski.

Enforced rotation

A gastro-entritis doing the rounds at FC Bayern forced coach Carlo Ancelotti to rotate his squad. The Italian made five changes to the XI that saw off FC Rostov on Tuesday. Bernat, Alonso, Sanches, Ribéry and Coman replaced Mats Hummels, David Alaba, Thiago, Thomas Müller and Douglas Costa, who came on for Coman at half-time. Thiago entered the hotly-contested fray for Sanches on the hour. Costa had to leave the pitch with a thigh-problem, Jérôme Boateng replaced him, making his comeback after a persistent muscle injury.

The 75,000 capacity crowd who braved driving rain saw an entertaining, up-tempo contest of two contrasting sides, which was soon reflected by the scoreline. The Allianz Arena clocks showed eight minutes had been played when Bayern conceded their first goal this season, Lezcano exploiting a mix-up in the hosts' rearguard on the break and steering the ball past netminder Neuer. Bayern's reply followed only four minutes later, when Lewandowksi ghosted past the Ingolstadt rearguard to connect with Ribéry's pinpoint pass through the clutter and overcome Nyland with a sumptuous lob.

Xabi and Rafinha brighten Bayern's day

Alonso crashed home a second five minutes into the second half, unleashing an unstoppable 25-yarder into the net. It looked as if Carlo Ancelotti's troops could monopolise the danger now, but Neuer soon performed miracles to deny FCI forward Leckie, directing his drive over the bar. Hinterseer had a gilt-edged chance midway through the second half, but aimed too far to the right. At the other end Thiago forced Nyland into a fine save. Rafinha then put the game beyong the visitors' reach with five minutes to go.

Ingolstadt had only taken one point from two matches and signalled their intent from the off, making a real fist of it. Bayern made better use of their chances, turning the contest into a demonstration of clout. The visitors lamented the opportunities lost and the German record champions soon raced out of sight in the second half.

The success means the Bavarians retain top spot in the embryonic league table. The German record champions are back in action on Wednesday, when they entertain Hertha Berlin at the Allianz Arena.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Gregor Salmen

 

FC BAYERN - FC INGOLSTADT 3-1 (H-T: 1-1)