Commanding Bayern outclass Hoffenheim

FC Bayern downed TSG Hoffenheim 5-0 on Wednesday night to consolidate their lead in the Bundesliga table. Leroy Sané, Raphaël Guerreiro and Harry Kane handed Bayern a comfortable lead before half-time. Sané rounded off his brace after the restart and Serge Gnabry sealed the final scoreline midway through the second half as Bayern turned in a commanding display in the final match of the first half of the season.

Bayern lined up with Manuel Neuer in goal and Guerreiro, Eric Dier, Dayot Upamecano and Alphonso Davies in a back four. Aleksandar Pavlović and Joshua Kimmich anchored a midfield featuring Sané, Thomas Müller and Kingsley Coman, with Kane as the target man. Mathys Tel took over from Coman at half-time, with Leon Goretzka, Gnabry, Michael Olise and Jamal Musiala replacing Upamecano, Kane, Sané and Müller in the second half.

Utter dominance

Bayern dominated possession from the off and took an early lead when they won the ball in the opposition half, with Müller laying off for Sané, whose powerful drive found the far corner of the net. Guerreiro soon doubled the lead when he slotted past keeper Oliver Baumann after a one-two with Kane.

Davies saw a shot deflected behind, with Arthur Chaves only just beating Upamecano to a loose ball following the ensuing corner. Munich were awarded a penalty for handball, with Kane dispatching from the spot. Müller fired wide and a Sané shot was blocked before FCB increasingly engaged cruise control, but they were always a step quicker than their opponents. Chances came and went for Coman and Bayern were three up at half-time.

Brace for Sané

Vincent Kompany's men banished any last lingering doubts when Tel's cross invited Sané to slot home. Kane saw two efforts saved before Kimmich fired over, but Gnabry added gloss to the scoreline when he made the most of a mix-up in the box.

Neuer was called into action when he denied Finn Ole Becker, with Baumann saving from Dier and Olise. Gnabry and Tel aimed too far as Bayern concluded the Hinrunde in style.

The result means Bayern top the table on 42 points from 17 matches, four clear of Leverkusen at the midpoint of the season. The Bavarians will be back in action in just three days when they entertain Wolfsburg.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen