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No Lewandowski? No problemo! Bayern never looked like they missed their prolific number 9 as they battered Hoffenheim six goals to nil in their own backyard.
Ruthless Bayern show no mercy
It was an absolute goal fest as Bayern romped a lacklustre Hoffenheim who never posed a challenge and looked poor throughout the game. The defending champions were without their free-scoring centre-forward Robert Lewandowski — ruled out for a minimum of four weeks after he picked up an injury to his knee in the Champions League game against Chelsea. The Bavarians never looked like they missed him as they created chance after chance to put six goals past Oliver Baumann.
Joshua Zirkzee shows up in his first start for Bayern
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The 18-year-old Dutchman had the perfect first start with a partial assist in the 6th minute to set Kimmich up for the second goal, before adding a goal of his own in the 15th minute himself. Replacing the Big Pole, Zirkzee used his physicality well to impose himself and cleverly linked up with his teammates to create numerous chances. That said, he could have added another goal or two to his name, had he put a better finishing touch on a couple of good chances. All in all, a promising performance from the Bayern youngster.
Shithousery stretched too far ? Referee says yes.
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This game could have ended with double figures for Bayern, but play was stopped twice due to an offensive banner directed towards Hoffenheim owner Dietmar Hopp. It justifiably drew wild reactions from the Bayern players as well as the coach, as the referee could have abandoned the game. When play resumed for the second time, both teams decided to stop the game and pass the ball around for the last quarter of the match. Consequences could follow for the actions of a small section of the otherwise squeaky clean Bayern fanbase.