15.30 Kickoffs: Bayern punish Hoffenheim for previous upset with 4-1 thrashing
German record champions FC Bayern München picked up their fourth consecutive win, bashing former youth coach Sebastien Hoeneß's Hoffenheim at the Allianz.
Following their shock loss to Holstein Kiel in the second round of the DFB Pokal, Germany's Bavarian football juggernaut has rattled off four victories. Hans Dieter Flick's FCB made another huge statement on Saturday afternoon, inflicted revenge on TSG 1899 Hoffenheim for a 1-4 loss in the campaign's reverse fixture.
A COVID infection forced Flick to bring Marc Roca in to replace Leon Goretzka in midfield. Other changes employed by the Bayern trainer included Benjamin Pavard over Niklas Süle at right-back and Kingsley Coman in place of Leroy Sané on the left flank.
Flick's standard 4-2-3-1 purred along efficiently, controlling the tempo of the game with nearly 70 percent possession in the first-half. Thomas Müller found himself unlucky to hit the crossbar in the 15th. Hoeneß's Kraichgauer were able to generate a few decent chances on the counter, but Jerome Boateng headed in a Joshua Kimmich corner in the 32nd to open the scoring.
Robert Lewandowski set up Müller for another tally 11 minutes later. With two minutes left in the half, it appeared as if the floodgates were firmly open. Hoffenheim striker Andrej Kramaric nevertheless kept it interesting by pulling one back barely a minute later. The Croatian supplied an excellent finish off a Ilhas Bebou set-up to send his team into the locker room down only 1-2.
Christoph Baumgartner missed two excellent opportunities shortly after the restart as the Sinsheimers emerged from the tunnel with a bit of momentum. A defensive miscue in the 57th however, saw Lewandowski slide home the decisive goal. Serge Gnabry added the fourth in the 63rd. Benjamin Pavard found the back of the net in the 70th, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Elsewhere in the Bundesliga's 15:30 kickoffs, Borussia Dortmund also inflicted revenge on Augsburg for a "Hin-runde" loss with a 3-1 victory. Borussia Mönchengladbach fought back from an early deficit to draw Union Berlin 1-1. Werder Bremen also came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Schalke at the Weserstadion.
Pal Dardai's Hertha BSC put in an organized and coherent defensive performance against Frankfurt. The SGE nevertheless broke them down late to dig out a 3-1 win.