Bayern ease past St. Pauli and make history

FC Bayern beat St. Pauli 5-0 on Saturday to extend their lead in the Bundesliga. Jamal Musiala handed Bayern an early lead, with Leon Goretzka, Michael Olise, Nicolas Jackson and Raphaël Guerreiro scoring after the break. It meant Munich broke the Bundesliga scoring record with now 105 goals this campaign.

Bayern started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Konrad Laimer, Minjae Kim, Hiroki Ito and Tom Bischof in a back four. Joshua Kimmich and Goretzka anchored a midfield featuring Olise, Musiala and Guerreiro, with Jackson up front. Josip Stanišić, Jonathan Tah, Alphonso Davies and Luis Díaz took over from Laimer, Ito, Kimmich and Olise in the second half.

Musiala scores historic goal

Bayern were dominant throughout and took an early lead when Laimer’s cross found Musiala, who headed home. It was Bayern’s 101^st goal this campaign, equalling the Bundesliga record from 1971/72. Jackson’s deflected shot hit the bar before Olise fired wide from 15 yards.

Kimmich soon intercepted a pass and teed up Guerreiro, who flicked it into the path of Musiala, the latter seeing his shot crash off the post. Kim made a fine block against Mathias Pereira Lage. Musiala miscued a header and Laimer aimed too far as Bayern were one up at the break.

Reds run riot

The pattern was similar after the restart, although Andreas Hountondji soon tested Neuer. A Kimmich free-kick was flicked on and Goretzka volleyed home to set a new goal record. Bayern’s second opened the floodgates and they all but put the game to bed when Goretzka intercepted a pass and set up Olise, who charged down the middle and found the bottom left corner of the net.

Díaz saw an effort blocked, but Munich added a fourth when they won the ball and Musiala invited Jackson to slot home. Vincent Kompany’s men shifted down through the gears now and clear-cut chances were at a premium for a spell, but they made it five in the closing stages, Jackson winning the ball and setting up Guerreiro, who scored Bayern’s 105^th goal this season. Goretzka’s header found the net in added time, but the goal was chalked off for offside after VAR intervention. 

The victory takes Bayern onto 76 points, twelve clear of Borussia Dortmund with five matches to go. Vincent Kompany’s team will be back in action on Wednesday when they entertain Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final second leg.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen