Bundesliga on Wednesday
Gala in Munich: FC Bayern dismantles Hoffenheim
Updated on January 15, 2025 – 10:33 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
The Munich team have no trouble with TSG and play themselves into a frenzy at times. One player in particular stands out.
A goal spectacle at the end of the first half of the Bundesliga: FC Bayern ended the first half of the season with an at times exhilarating 5-0 (3-0) against TSG Hoffenheim, putting champions and pursuers Bayer Leverkusen back at a distance.
Leroy Sané (7th, 48th), Raphaël Guerreiro (12th), Harry Kane (26th, hand penalty) and Serge Gnabry (66th) scored for the German record champions, who were at times intoxicated, against very weak guests who were happy in the end could not have been sent home with an even greater defeat.
In the table, Bayern are now four points ahead of their pursuers Leverkusen with 42 points.
In front of 75,000 spectators in the Allianz Arena, the only question that arose early on was how much the star ensemble around Jamal Musiala, who returned as a late substitute, would win the first home game of the year. As coach Vincent Kompany warned before kick-off, his professionals used their chances more efficiently, unlike in the tough 1-0 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach. However, Hoffenheim also made things extremely easy for the German record champions and remained winless in their ninth competitive game in a row.
Before the effective and lively Sané made his first appearance as man of the match, his teammate Thomas Müller gestured to give him advice on how to improve after a misplaced ball. Sané, whose contract expires at the end of the season, took the advice to heart and made it 1-0 after a somewhat fortunate one-two with Müller; his fourth goal of the season.
Sané came into his own better on the right wing, which was otherwise occupied by Michael Olise, than he did on the left side. The interaction with the Portuguese Guerreiro, who was called up as right-back instead of Konrad Laimer this time, also worked well. In the 2-0 win, however, Guerreiro did not benefit from Sané, but from a nice interaction with Kane.
A little later, England’s national team captain once again demonstrated his expertise from the penalty spot. After Kevin Akpoguma received the ball against his hand, Kane converted a penalty for the 27th time in a row. All of his 18 penalties for Bayern were in the game. The guests had their defender Arthur Chaves to thank for the fact that it wasn’t already 4-0 at the break, who cleared a Müller header in front of the goal line (20th).
Sané also opened the second half of the game with a goal after preparatory work by substitute Mathys Tel, who is fighting his way through Munich and doesn’t want to leave the club. It wasn’t just in this scene that one could feel sorry for TSG keeper Oliver Baumann at the place of his international debut.
The people in front of him, around the eager Bayern candidate Tom Bischof as the only bright spot, let the Munich team combine almost as they wished. On the other hand, captain Manuel Neuer also appeared as goalkeeper when he had to save a shot from Finn Becker (70th).