Historically good and merciless: Bayern Munich threatens to play the next solo at the top of the table. The record champions easily won 7-0 (4-0) at VfL Bochum and after three matchdays are in better shape than any Bundesliga club before.
Players who have not had it easy recently also entered the top scorer list: the much-maligned national player Leroy Sané (4th), Matthijs de Ligt, who was brought in as the new chief of defence, on his starting eleven debut (25th) and Kingsley Coman, who returned after a red suspension (33rd). In addition, star addition Sadio Mané (42nd, 60th / penalty kick) hit twice. Serge Gnabry was also allowed (76th). Christian Gamboa (69th) also scored an own goal, it was Bochum’s heaviest Bundesliga defeat.
“We are very proud, we have to keep playing like this,” said goalscorer Kingsley Coman on “DAZN”. “We’re at 100 percent. (…) We have a lot of opportunities up front.” Matthijs de Ligt, who made his debut with one goal, said: “It was important to stay focused. Then you score seven.”
With nine points and 15:1 goals, Bayern improved their own starting record from the treble season 2012/13. VfL, brave but punished for almost every mistake, is in a worse position than ever after three match days: zero points, 3:12 goals.
At the last meeting in February, FC Bayern had conceded a 2: 4 and presented themselves desolate in places. “We don’t set ourselves any limits, we’re trying to bring in consistency now,” said coach Julian Nagelsmann, and he enthused about the “energy in the team. That wasn’t always the case last season.”
Musiala, Gnabry and Davies not in the starting XI
When he returned to Castroper Straße, the master coach was forced to change his starting XI for the first time this Bundesliga season. The previously outstanding Jamal Musiala had to pass, as did left-back Alphonso Davies, and the ailing Gnabry moved to the bench.
De Ligt, who was committed for at least 70 million euros, was allowed to play from the start for the first time. In addition, national player Sané and Coman, who was outstanding from the start, rotated into the first eleven on the offensive wings.
Sané initiated the early lead himself and, after a pass from Coman, finished powerfully in the goal corner. Sané was now bursting with enthusiasm, only five minutes later he shot hard and placed from 25 meters, VfL keeper Manuel Riemann just deflected the shot around the post.
Bochum countered as best they could and tried to put the favorite’s uncoordinated back four under pressure early on. Bochum’s captain Anthony Losilla had a clear field of fire in the 23rd minute, but the Frenchman clearly missed.
Mané puts together the first brace
At the other end, Riemann missed a corner kick and de Ligt thanked him at the far post. For VfL it was the fourth goal conceded after a corner in the third game.
In front of 26,000 spectators, things went almost automatically for Bayern. At 0: 3 Gamboa was the godfather, Thomas Müller followed up, Coman dusted off. Who was still missing? Mane! He only scored from a few centimeters in the 40th minute, but maneuvered the ball over the line with his hand. Shortly thereafter, the Senegalese completed the game according to the rules after a fantastic pass from Coman.
After the change of sides, FC Bayern took a step back, as they did in the 6-1 win in Frankfurt, but little changed in terms of dominance. Bochum could have lost even more.