Reds storm to victory over Hoffenheim

FC Bayern beat TSG Hoffenheim 4-1 on Saturday, remaining on course in the Bundesliga. Jérôme Boateng put Bayern ahead after the half-hour and Thomas Müller doubled the lead, and although Andrej Kramarić pulled one back for TSG shortly before half-time, Robert Lewandowski restored the two-goal lead 12 minutes into the second half, Serge Gnabry soon steering FCB into the comfort zone.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Benjamin Pavard, Boateng, David Alaba and Alphonso Davies in a back four. Joshua Kimmich and Marc Roca anchored a midfield featuring Gnabry, Müller and Kingsley Coman, with Lewandowski as sole striker. Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sané, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Douglas Costa took over from Roca, Gnabry, Müller and Coman midway through the second half, Niklas Süle coming on for Boateng in the closing stages.

Jérôme opens

Bayern dominated possession throughout but the first chance fell to TSG, Neuer denying Ihlas Bebou before an audacious Müller chip crashed off the crossbar. A Müller header only just evaded Lewandowski, Bebou miscuing a header from close range at the other end.

Coman tested netminder Oliver Baumann, but Bayern made their dominance count when Boateng rose high to head home from a Kimmich corner. Kimmich drew a save from Baumann before Bayern doubled the advantage, a Lewandowski cutback finding Müller, who blasted past Baumann from the edge of the box, but a setback came seconds later, Kramarić converting a Bebou cross.

Lewy and Serge on target

Hoffenheim's Christoph Baumgartner tested Neuer before firing over from close range, but Bayern largely held the upper hand. Coman saw an effort saved before Lewandowski made the most of a mix-up in the box, dispatching a loose ball. Munich went for the jugular when Coman's through-ball found Gnabry, who beat Baumann.

Bayern had the ball in the back of the net for a fifth time when Pavard blasted into the roof of the net, but it was ruled out for offside following VAR intervention. Baumann denied Sané before Hoffenheim hit the gas in the closing stages, Neuer making strong saves against Pavel Kaderabek and Havard Nordtveit, and match official Benjamin Cortus blew for full-time.

The result takes Bayern onto 45 points from 19 matches, ten clear of Leipzig, who take on Leverkusen later on Saturday. The Bavarians will be back in action on Friday, when they entertain Hertha Berlin.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen