Both in Europe and domestically, German champions Bayern Munich reminded the world of their attacking prowess, finishing February with dominating wins over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and a solid Hoffenheim outfit.
A Bayern Munich football. Photo: Alexas_Fotos via Pixabay
Across the two games, the Bavarian giants scored NINE goals, with Serge Gnabry grabbing three of those. The former Arsenal winger got two in three minutes against the Blues, before Robert Lewandowski netted the third to put Hans-Dieter Flick’s men in a very commanding position ahead of the second leg. Frank Lampard’s side were resistant for the first 50 minutes, but had no answers to the pace, movement and combination play of Bayern.
On Saturday it took Gnabry just two minutes to get on the scoresheet, and the visitors had three within 15 minutes against a rattled Hoffenheim. By the hour mark, Bayern were 6 goals to the good in an assertive display, with Philippe Coutinho getting two and 18-year-old Joshua Zirkzee scoring on his first start in the Bundesliga.
The match, however, ended in an unbelievable fashion. After the travelling Bayern fans held up banners in protest against Hoffenheim president Dietmar Hopp, the two teams simply passed the ball between one another for the last 15 minutes of the contest in retaliation.
Elsewhere:
English youngster Jadon Sancho scored his seventh goal in consecutive home games for Borussia Dortmund as they beat Freiburg 1-0, staying hot on the heels of leaders Bayern. England fans will hope the winger can maintain his high level of play for the national side at the Euros in the summer.
Question marks over David Wagner’s job security at Schalke are beginning to be raised after they suffered another heavy defeat, this week going down 3-0 against Köln.
Hertha Berlin came back from 3-0 down at Fortuna Dusseldorf on Friday to rescue a point, with January signing Krzysztof Piatek slotting a penalty to equalise. Meanwhile, Borussia Mönchengladbach remain in the hunt for Champion League places after a 3-2 win against Ausburg.
RB Leipzig host 5th-placed Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday, and a win will bring them within one point of first place.