Hoffenheim 0-6 Bayern Munich: Initial reactions and observations

Intital observations and reactions

• Bayern were relentless on both sides of the ball. With six goals in the back of the net and a shutout on defense, Bayern showed that they mean business. It was a brilliant response to a 3-0 Champions League victory in midweek. This was a clear signal to the Bundesliga and to Europe that Bayern Munich is here to win it all this year.
• Bayern rallied around Philippe Coutinho. Criticism of Coutinho has come from far and wide this season. With his future at Bayern being uncertain, Coutinho could see today’s start was a chance to prove his worth. Before he scored, you could see the Bayern players comforting Coutinho and urging him to continue and to keep going. Finally, he was able to put one in the back of the net before half and another one after the half. He also added an assist. Whatever happens with Coutinho, it is good to see the Bayern players backing their teammate.
• A great game ended very strangely. After the game was halted multiple times due to fan protests, the referee pulled all the players off the field for fifteen minutes. When play resumed, the players simply passed the ball to each other for the rest of the time. Whatever your thoughts are on the matter, it is a shame that these protests will overshadow the brilliant display of soccer on the field. This will go down as one of the strangest endings of all time.

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Full time: Bayern win 6-0. Who knows if the result will stand.

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85’ — 5 mins left to play, and the scenes are bizarre. Players are having a keepy-uppy competition.

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79’ — The game is dead, both teams are just passing the ball around. After all this drama, nothings’s gonna happen for the last 15 mins.

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Restart — The game will continue from the 77th minute, if the Bayern fans unfurl the banner again, the game will be annulled.

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83’ — Play still stopped, no clue if it will continue again.

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77’ — The referee takes both teams off due to the protests. Hasan Salihamidzic and Hansi Flick goes to speak to the Bayerns fans.

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63’ — Bayern sub. Lucas Hernandez comes on for Alphonso Davies

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62’— GOAL! Bayern! Leon Goretzka assisted by Tolisso!

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56’ — Bayern sub. Thomas Muller makes way for Leon Goretzka.

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47’ — GOAL! Bayern Coutinho assisted by Muller!

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46’— Corentin Tolisso comes on for Boateng as the second half is underway after a brief delay.

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Halftime Observations

• Bayern were well-prepared for this game. Without Lewandowski in the lineup, other players needed to step up and fill his role. They have done that so far. Four goals in the first half, without the world’s hottest striker is super impressive.
• Hoffenheim has not done anything with the ball. Bayern has been able to squash almost every chance that Hoffenheim gets. We have seen little need for Neuer so far. Most possessions have ended before midfield. Bayern is hot on both sides of the ball

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Halftime! Bayern lead 4-0

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33’ — GOAL! Bayern! Coutinho finally finds the back of the net again!

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14’ — GOAL! Bayern! Zirkzee assisted by Kimmich!

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7’ — GOAL! Bayern! Kimmich assisted by Thomas Muller!

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3’ — GOAL! Bayern! Serge Gnabry assisted by Thomas Muller!

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Kickoff: We’re underway!

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One hour until kickoff: We have lineups!

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Matchday! Following their win over Chelsea in midweek, Bayern Munich have the task of keeping the 2020 unbeaten run going with a game against Hoffenheim. Hansi Flick has already beaten his opponents once this season, but that game was at home, with a healthy Robert Lewandowski in the lineup. This time, things aren’t going to be that easy.

In addition to Lewandowski, Bayern are missing both Kingsley Coman and Ivan Perisic. This puts tremendous strain on the Bavarians’ attacking abilities, and Flick confirmed in his press conference that Philippe Coutinho would return to the lineup as a result. There are whispers that this is the Brazilian’s last chance to impress — in the absence of Bayern’s primary scorer, Thomas Muller or Serge Gnabry will need to go up into the striker’s spot, leaving Coutinho to fill one of their roles. Let’s hope he can rise to the occasion.

It’s Bayern time.

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Match Info

Location: Rhein-Neckar Arena, Sinsheim, Germany

Time: 3:30 pm local time, 9:30 am EST

TV/streaming: Fubo.tv, Find Your Country

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