Irresistible Reds breeze past Frankfurt

FC Bayern beat Eintracht Frankfurt 6-1 on Friday night, getting off to a brilliant start to the campaign. Bayern turned in a commanding first-half display, Joshua Kimmich, Benjamin Pavard, Sadio Mané, Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry all scoring for the German record champions. The second half was more balanced, Kolo Muani scoring a consolation goal for the hosts before Musiala rounded off his brace to seal the final scoreline.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Pavard, Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Hernández and Alphonso Davies in a back four. Thomas Müller, Kimmich, Marcel Sabitzer and Musiala featured in midfield, with Mané and Gnabry up front. Ryan Gravenberch, Leroy Sané, Mathys Tel, Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt took over from Sabitzer, Sané, Gnabry, Pavard and Hernández in the second half.

Five at half-time

After a brief ceremony and a minute's silence for Eintracht legend Hans Weilbächer, Bayern went straight onto the front foot, and Mané headed over before Kimmich put Bayern ahead, taking keeper Kevin Trapp by surprise when he netted a free-kick from 25 yards. Müller saw a shot blocked to Pavard, who beat Trapp with a low drive.

Frankfurt had not gone absent without leave, Tuta directing a header against the bar and Lindström firing wide, but Bayern kept prising their defence apart. Müller hit the bar and Trapp tipped a Musiala belter onto the bar, but a third was coming and arrived when a Gnabry lob invited Mané to head home. The African Player of the Year aimed too high but Bayern had plenty more salt to rub into the home side's wounds. Müller squared for Musiala to tap in before Gnabry lifted the ball past Trapp and into the net, and Aytekin blew for half-time.

Cruise control

Bayern's impetus ebbed away in a second half that was a slow-burning sequel to an impressive display, with Frankfurt looking for a response. Eintracht had the ball in the net when Jakic slotted past Neuer, but the linesman's flag was up for offside. Neuer denied Knauff but soon lost the ball at the edge off the box following a back pass, and Kolo Muani tapped into the empty net.

Knauff hit the side-netting before Trapp denied Mané. Mazraoui aimed too high but the German record champions rounded off the half-dozen in the closing stages, Sané finding Musiala, who stood his ground against two defenders and slotted home.

The Bavarians will be back in action next Sunday, when they entertain Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.

Live match report for fcbayern.comby Greg Salmen