Dominant Reds breeze past Hoffenheim

FC Bayern beat TSG Hoffenheim 4-0 on Saturday, extending their winning streak. Serge Gnabry and Robert Lewandowski handed the champions a two-goal lead in the first half, and subs Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting and Kingsley Coman made sure the scoreline reflected the balance of play when they netted in the closing stages.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Hernández and Omar Richards in a back four. Marcel Sabitzer and Joshua Kimmich featured in a twin holding role behind Gnabry, Thomas Müller and Jamal Musiala, with Lewandowski up front. Niklas Süle took over from Hernández at half-time, Choupo-Moting, Coman, Corentin Tolisso and Leroy Sané coming on for Müller, Musiala, Sabitzer and Gnabry in the second half.

Serge and Lewy on target

The 60,000 crowd at the Allianz Arena saw Bayern start brightly, Lewandowski narrowly putting a chip wide in the second minute. Musiala had the ball in the net minutes later, but the goal was ruled out for a foul. Munich took the lead after a quarter-hour, Musiala's perceptive pass inviting Gnabry to fire into the far corner of the net.

Müller saw an effort blocked, but Bayern twisted the knife when the native Bavarian poked the ball to Lewandowski, who unleashed a sumptuous drive into the top corner of the net to crown a fine counter. Lewandowski almost bagged a brace but netminder Oliver Baumann made a fine save, and Bayern were two up at half-time.

Choupo seals it

Gnabry was denied by Baumann seconds after the restart before Ihlas Bebou miscued an effort at the other end. Kimmich and Sabitzer fired wide, and Bayern increasingly engaged cruise control. TSG's Robert Skov and Georginio Rutter missed chances before Munich upped the ante again, Coman aiming too high.

Baumann made a fine save against Choupo-Moting, but the latter put the game to bed when he made the most of a mix-up in the box, slotting home from close range. Tolisso soon crashed past Baumann and into the far corner of the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Coman rounded off the final scoreline after an exceptional pass by Upamecano, and match official Matthias Jöllenbeck put TSG out of their misery.

The result takes Bayern onto 22 points from nine matches, one point ahead of Dortmund, who beat Bielefeld. Bayern will be back in action on Wednesday, when they travel to face Gladbach in the DFB Cup.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen