Bundesliga
Julian Nagelsmann’s side returned to winning ways in the Bundesliga in breathtaking style in the Matchday 8 opener on Friday, beating Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 in a match in which Jamal Musiala sparkled and Sadio Mane netted his first goal on home turf.
Bayern Munich 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Goals: 1-0 Sane 3’ (assist Musiala), 2-0 Musiala 17’ (assist: Müller), 3-0 Mane 39’ (assist: Musiala), 4-0 Müller (84')
Without a league victory in four games dating back to the 7-0 hammering of Bochum on 21 August, Bayern began here determined to dispel any whispers of a slump. It took them just three minutes to open the scoring, with Musiala’s feint taking him away from Mitchel Bakker down the right, before crossing for Sane to lash in past Lukas Hradecky. Musiala added his name to the scoresheet a short while later, rifling in from 16 yards from Thomas Müller’s cushioned pass, and was involved once more in the team’s third. The 19-year-old strode forward in midfield and picked out Mane on the edge of the Leverkusen area. While his first touch was not the best, he was still afforded time and space to adjust his feet and plant a shot into the bottom corner. Manuel Neuer was largely a spectator at the other end of the pitch, with a speculative Robert Andrich shot from range that sailed over the closest they came to a response.
Without the same pressing need to score, Bayern were not as ruthless in the second half but they very much remained the superior side. Musiala continued to run the show, popping up wide, deep and in central attacking positions as his elusive movement caused the visitors no end of problems. Mane almost rounded off a brilliant team move with a diving header, and the Senegal international later had a goal disallowed following a foul in the build-up. Undeterred, Bayern produced wave after wave of attacks, with Matthijs de Ligt forcing Hradecky into a fine stop with his long-range thunderbolt. Die Werkself could have pulled a goal back midway through the half but a mix-up between substitutes Sardar Azmoun and Amine Adli meant a gilt-edged chance at close range went unused. The damage had been done by that point anyway and Müller's late goal following a Hradecky mistake added gloss to the scoreline as Bayern registered their fourth Bundesliga win of the campaign.
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Watch: Mane discusses his first home goal for Bayern
Bayern: Neuer (c) - Pavard, Upamecano (Mazraoui 81'), de Ligt, Davies - Kimmich, Sabitzer (Goretzka 65') - Sane (Choupo-Moting 74'), Müller, Musiala (Gravenberch 81') - Mane (Gnabry 65')
Unused subs: Ulreich, Tel, Stanisic
Out: Coman (fitness), Hernandez (groin), Sarr (patella tendon), Wanner (unconfirmed)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Leverkusen: Hradecky (c) - Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba, Bakker (Hincapie 46') - Andrich, Demirbay - Frimpong (Aranguiz 46'), Hudson-Odoi (Adli 61'), Diaby (Hlozek 75') - Schick (Azmoun 61')
Unused subs: Lomb, Sinkgraven, Fosu-Mensah, Amiri
Out: Bellarabi (knee), Lunev (thigh), Palacios (hamstring), Wirtz (cruciate ligament)
Coach: Gerardo Seoane
Watch: Davies: "Wanted to show what we can do"