Gnabry hat-trick as Bayern overpower Bremen

Bayern Munich 6-1 Werder Bremen
Goals: 1-0 Musiala (6'), 1-1 Jung 10' (assist: Weiser), 2-1 Gnabry (22'), 3-1 Goretzka 26' (assist: Kimmich), 4-1 Gnabry 28' (assist: Sane), 5-1 Gnabry 82' (assist: Mazraoui), 6-1 Tel (84')

Bayern went into the game knowing that title rivals Borussia Dortmund had lost 2-0 in Wolfsburg shortly before kick-off, and they began in no mood to let that slip-up go unpunished. They needed just six minutes to open the scoring, Jamal Musiala finishing on the rebound after a shot from Sadio Mane – who went off injured shortly afterwards. Bremen equalised against the run of play moments later though, Anthony Jung expertly stroking the ball in following a fine Mitchell Weiser assist against his old club. There was no let-up in action-packed first half, with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting seeing his penalty saved before Julian Nagelsmann’s side struck three times in six minutes to effectively finish the game off before the interval, Gnabry hitting two and Leon Goretzka also adding his name to the scoresheet.

With the result in the bag, Bayern eased off a couple of gears in the second half and no longer had the same sense of purpose going forward. Still, they could have scored again when Leroy Sane raced through on goal before hitting the post, while Gnabry almost had his hat-trick with an attempted lob that Pavlenka did well to keep out. Both coaches had an eye on the weekend’s fixtures too, wary of possible injuries to weary legs, so a flurry of substitutions midway through the half disrupted any flow. Still, Bayern dominated in the closing period and added gloss to the scoreline when Gnabry completed his hat-trick, collecting Noussair Mazraoui's pass before dancing past two challenges and flicking in at the near post. Seventeen-year-old forward Mathys Tel had the final say with a brilliant solo goal, striding forward from midfield and lashing a thunderous shot in from the edge of the box to cap a well-deserved victory for the reigning champions.

• Gnabry scored the third Bundesliga hat-trick of his career, having previously hit trebles against Schalke and Stuttgart.
• Musiala scored his 20th Bundesliga goal, becoming the youngest player to do so since Horst Köppel in the 1960s.
• The 19-year-old took his goal tally to nine in the league this term, making him the highest-scoring midfielder in the division.
• Jung's goal was his second of the season and was Bremen's on shot on target in the entire first half.
• Weiser now has a team-high six assists in 2022/23. Only two players - Randal Kolo Muani and Alassane Plea, who both have seven - have more.
• Bayern are unbeaten in their last 12 competitive matches, winning 11.

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Bayern: Neuer (c) - Mazraoui, Pavard, Upamecano, Hernandez (Sabitzer 57') - Kimmich, Goretzka (Gravenberch 71') - Gnabry, Musiala (Tel 71'), Mane (Sane 20') - Choupo-Moting (Coman 57')
Unused subs: Ulreich, Wanner, Marusic
Out: Davies (thigh), De Ligt (knee), Müller (hip), Sarr (patella tendon), Stanisic (tonsillitis)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

Bremen: Pavlenka - Pieper, Veljkovic (Stark 46'), Friedl (c) - Weiser, Bittencourt (Schmid 62'), Groß (Rapp 88'), Gruev (Stage 59'), Jung - Burke (Dinkci 59'), Ducksch
Unused subs: Zetterer, Schmidt, Buchanan, Chiarodia
Out: Agu (patella tendon), dos Santos (ill), Füllkrug (back), Mbom (Achilles), Salifou (groin)
Coach: Ole Werner