FC Bayern set a new record in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday with a thumping victory. After beating Viktoria Pilsen 5-0 at home, the German record champions have been unbeaten in 31 group games in the top flight, leaving Real Madrid behind in this ranking. Leroy Sane (7th and 50th minutes), Serge Gnabry (13th), Sadio Mane (21st) and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (59th) shot out the win.
ÖFB team player Marcel Sabitzer came on as a substitute for Munich in the 73rd minute. The Munich team also managed an optimal dress rehearsal for the league hit on Saturday at Borussia Dortmund. In the premier class, Bayern will continue in a week when the return leg in Pilsen is due.
It took Bayern six minutes and 16 seconds four days after beating Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 to get back on track. Sane got the ball from Jamal Musiala, pulled in from the right in a solo run and finished beautifully with his left foot from long range. The goal inspired Munich and impressed the guests.
Bayern have it easy
Coach Julian Nagelsmann was able to relax on the sidelines. Gnabry used his chance in the starting XI as a central striker to make it 2-0 after a hole pass from Leon Goretzka. Mane also energetically freed himself from his recent creative crisis. He made it 3-0 after a fine individual action, and he started Sane’s 4-0 with a dream pass over 30 meters from the left wing.
After the departure of Robert Lewandowski, Sane developed into Bayern’s “Mister Premier Class”: It was his fourth goal in the third group game. The guests from Pilsen, who were overwhelmed defensively and offensively, ran into their third defeat in Group C. They were even lucky that a goal by Musiala was not recognized due to Mane being offside after video evidence (36th).
Nagelsmann was able to make an early change in order to conserve the strength of top performers like Sane for Dortmund. Substitute Choupo-Moting celebrated his first goal of the season, and 17-year-old Frenchman Mathys Tel also got playing time. Captain Manuel Neuer was practically unemployed: Pilsen’s only dangerous goal, a header from the two-meter-tall striker Tomas Chory, flew over his goal (39th).
“The performance was great”
“The performance was great. We created a lot of chances and scored five goals. It was a deserved win. It’s been a difficult few weeks for us. We showed the right reaction. We’re on the road to victory, hopefully we’ll stay there until the end of the season,” said Mane, already looking at the Bundesliga classic in Dortmund: “It’s a big game. It’s important for us to gain confidence. We’re trying our best and we want to win.”
Coach Julian Nagelsmann found words of praise after the peat festival: “The boys did well. It was quickly decided. Then it splashed away. It was a serious approach, very confident and well deserved.” Leon Goretzka added: “Nine points from three games with a decent goal difference. That fits. We are on course.”
