Franc Ribery, shown here in Pre-Season, with a goal and an early assist in this lopsided opener – Photo Don Mac Gregor
by Dan Gaichas
The four-time defending Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich opened in style against a hopelessly outclassed Werder Bremen, 6-0, before 75,000 at the Allianz Arena. It only took them nine minutes to open the scoring when Xabi Alonso unleashed a volley from 24 yards out past Felix Weidwald. Four minutes later, he’s back! Robert Lewandowski collected a long ball from Franck Ribery and found time and space to beat Weidwald from an acute angle.
Lewandowski made it 3-0 just 46 seconds into the second half after flicking in a cross from Thomas Muller. Muller then fed Philipp Lahm for number four after 66 minutes. Lahm matches his goal total from last season. Ribery made it five in the 73rd minute after a series of passes—the last of them from Muller to Ribery who struck from 15 yards out. Lewandowski completed his hat trick from the penalty spot four minutes after that after Rafinha was felled in the box.
This could easily have been a more lopsided match. The only downside for Bayern was that Muller was unable to finish a couple good chances of his own. It was debatable who felt more abandoned for Bremen—keeper Weiswald by his defense of Aron Johannsson as the sole striker up front who was substituted in the 63rd minute. Werder hardly showed any attack and the absence of Max Kruse to injury compounded their troubles up front.
“It was a good start to the Bundesliga campaign,” said Bayern manager Carlo Ancelotti. “We scored an early goal, that was good. We were in control then. We played very well over 90 minutes. Robert Lewandowski is a fantastic striker. We pressed forward well, set up many combinations and attacked with many players.”
After the match, Bayern were drawn at home to FC Augsburg in the Second Round of the DFB Pokal. It’s the third time in four years the teams will meet in the Pokal with Bayern winning the previous two encounters by 2-0. That match will be either October 25th or 26th.
Next week, it’s an international break with four players from Bayern to represent Germany: Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Mats Hummels, and Thomas Muller. Germany plays Finland in a friendly next Wednesday before traveling to Norway on Sunday, September 4th for their first World Cup Qualifier.
In two weeks, Bayern return to league play and (likely) a more challenging opponent in the form of Schalke at the Veltins Arena. Kickoff is on September 9th at 1:30pm CT on FS1.
