Rampant Reds thrash sorry Hamburg

FC Bayern demolished Hamburger SV 8-0 on Saturday afternoon, turning in a blistering display from start to finish against the Bundesliga's only ever-present club. Arturo Vidal opened the scoring before Robert Lewandowski doubled the lead from the spot and closed out the one-sided meeting before half-time. The Pole completed his hat-trick against the outclassed visitors early into the second half before David Alaba, two-goal Kingsley Coman and Arjen Robben added their names to the scoresheet.

The men from Munich started with Manuel Neuer in goal and a back four comprising Philipp Lahm, Javi Martínez, Mats Hummels and Alaba. Thiago and Vidal directed operations in front of the rearguard, with Bayern's attacking unit featuring Thomas Müller between wingers Robben and Douglas Costa looking to serve lone striker Lewandowski.

In his 1,000th competitive match as a head coach, Carlo Ancelotti made two changes to the XI from last weekend's draw with Hertha. Lewandowski took over from Joshua Kimmich as Ancelotti opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Martínez replacing Juan Bernat. Renato Sanches and Coman came on for Lewandowski and Thiago around the hour-mark before Lahm gave way to Rafinha before the end.

Arturo and Lewy make it three without reply

The 75,000 capacity crowd at the Allianz Arena saw the home side in the driving seat, utterly dominating proceedings against the reeling men from the north. After the quarter-hour Alaba raced down the left and teed up Thomas Müller, who excelled with a brilliant first touch before inviting Vidal to crash home the opener from the edge of the box.

The goal opened the floodgates, and barely 60 seconds later the champions almost doubled the lead, but visiting netminder René Adler performed miracles to direct a Lewandowski effort from point-blank range onto the crossbar. Match official Bastian Dankert soon pointed to the spot as Hamburg's Mergim Mavraj felled Müller in the box, Lewandowski slotting past Adler.

Chances were coming thick and fast for the Bavarians, with the Poland captain and Robben missing a couple of presentable openings as Bayern charged down both flanks at will. Ancelotti's troops closed out the meeting shortly before half-time when Adler saved from Costa, but Lewandowski controlled the rebound with astonishing ease to find the top of the net.

Hamburg were struggling with a decimated squad due to flu doing the rounds in the dressing room, but that alone could not explain their display as it seemed they had gone absent without leave. At half-time the German record champions boasted 75 percent possession and 11 shots to Hamburg's two.

Wholesale demolition after the interval

The second half began with Hamburg briefly plucking up courage in search of a reply, but Lewandowski soon rounded off his hat-trick following a cunning Robben back-heel. Two minutes later Müller invited Alaba to add his name to the scoresheet before sub Coman latched onto Hummels' sumptuous 50-yard pass to make it six. The French winger had more salt to rub into the away side's wounds, rounding off his brace midway through the second half as he netted from the edge of the box. Robben sealed the final scoreline with five minutes to go, when he cut inside, left Mavraj rooted to the spot and blasted into the far corner.

Both keepers earned praise following Saturday's meeting. The result may suggest the opposite, but René Adler turned in an excellent display, averting a two-digit scoreline with a number of fine saves, whereas milestone man Manuel Neuer kept his 100th clean sheet wearing Bayern colours.

The result means Bayern have 53 points from 22 matches, five clear of RB Leipzig who won their home match against Köln. The Reds will surely be buoyed by their utterly convincing display for the next challenges as Saturday marked the start to an intense phase including midweek matches. The Bavarians entertain Schalke in the DFB Cup last eight on Wednesday night before travelling to face Köln in the Bundesliga next Saturday.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen

FC Bayern - Hamburger SV 8-0 (H-T: 3-0)