When first meets second-to-last, you know that Bayern Munich are likely going to win. Not only did they comprehensively win behind a Robert Lewandowski brace, they dominated the entire game from start to finish with guile, effort, and flawless passing.
With Javi Martinez's injury news this morning, Bayern Munich came into this match with a single functional centerback. For a side that's struggled against the counterattack, it was always going to how they dealt with this issue with just Holger Badstuber manning the backline. The answer to that question was Joshua Kimmich who announced himself with a masterclass performance, playing solid aggressive defense and a passing acument and decision making that demonstrate exactly why Micheal Rechke was so high on him when they nabbed him from RB Leipzig.
On the other side of the pitch, it was a slaughter as a five-man Bayern Munich attack hammered away at a Hoffenheim midfield that looked bereft of the ability to play defense. Time and again, Arjen Robben, Thomas Müller, and Douglas Costa beat the Hoffenheim backline en route to lodging 29 shots. Only some woeful finishing and the adept positioning of Oliver Baumann kept Bayern from scoring more.
Bayern started the scoring in the 31st minute with Douglas Costa who took a two-step burst, burned Pavel Kadaerabek, and dropped a pin point cross across the box that Robert Lewandowski tapped in. It was a return to a goal we've seen countless times by Franck Ribery and a move that's netted Douglas Costa many assists so far this season.
With the match completely under their control, it was only a matter of time before they added to their tally. Robert Lewandowski doubled his scoring tally for the day in the 63rd minute running off the back side of the Hoffenheim defense following a penetrating dribble by Philipp Lahm, before calmly chipping the ball over the onrushing Baumann.
Bayern could have easily added more such was their dominance, but Pep Guardiola opted to remove his potent attacking threats and shore up midfield with the introductions of Thiago and Arturo Vidal as Bayern strangled the life out of Hoffenheim's midfield with possession and bodies.
On a day when the looming question was defense, Bayern Munich didn't even need one to play the game.