Created on 13-04-2013 at 00:00 AM
Bayern had promised no let-up despite sealing the Bundesliga title last week, and a reshuffled side featuring nine squad and backup players delivered in style on Saturday with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over outclassed Bavarian rivals Nürnberg.
The 71,000 full house at the Allianz Arena saw the unfamiliar home line-up sprint off the blocks as if they had been playing together all season, Jerome Boateng, Mario Gomez and Rafinha converting the best of a host of chances in the first 25 minutes.
Immediately after the restart, FCB backup keeper Tom Starke saved a Timmy Simons penalty by the unusual method of heading the spot-kick clear, before Xherdan Shaqiri extended Munich’s lead on 56 minutes. With the result beyond doubt, 17-year-old Danish wunderkind Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg made his senior debut with 20 minutes left as the champions strolled to another clear-cut win.
A 25th victory in 29 league matches means FCB move onto 78 points, 20 ahead of second-placed Dortmund on 58, and only three short of the all-time Bundesliga record of 81, set by BVB last term. The programme continues with the visit of Wolfsburg in the DFB Cup last four on Tuesday, before the Bavarians travel to Hannover in the league next Saturday.