Bayern Munich Defeats Hoffenheim in German Bundesliga Match

Jamal Musiala was the star for Bayern Munich, as they beat Hoffenheim 3-0 on the night that German football paid tribute to the late, great Franz Beckenbauer.

The visitors made a bright start, although Maximilian Beier and Andrej Kramaric fired off target, before Thomas Tuchel’s side took the lead when Musiala fired home via the far post.

That was one of few clear-cut chances for Bayern before the break, but they turned on the style after it, with Musiala again hitting the post and Oliver Baumann making a superb save from Konrad Laimer.

At the other end, Manuel Neuer made a pair of magnificent saves from Beier and Kramaric, before the former hit the bar from close range.

The hosts made their opponents pay for those missed chances as Musiala doubled the lead shortly afterwards, before Hoffenheim had Grischa Promel sent off, receiving his second yellow card for a bad tackle on Mathys Tel.

Harry Kane then finally got his goal, his 22nd in just 16 Bundesliga appearances, when converting from inside the box late on.

This was a night more important than the bare result for Bayern Munich, who were playing their first match since earlier this week.

Such an occasion can take its toll on a team, and the atmosphere inside the Allianz Arena was certainly a bit flat following a myriad of tributes to the two-time World Cup winner, which included a minute’s silence and both teams wearing black armbands.

Eventually, the hosts rose to the occasion, as they simply had to do. Any nerves were dispelled by the opening goal, and from there, despite the Hoffenheim chances after the break, there was only ever likely to be one winner. This could quite easily have been Manuel Neuer, such was the importance of the two saves he made at 1-0 in the second half.

However, it’s impossible to ignore the impact 20-year old Jamal Musiala had on the match, netting either side of half-time.

The first was a wonderfully clinical finish, the second rounding off a lovely move, but his involvement was far much more than that, regularly driving Bayern forward on a night when his teammates were far from their best.

BAYERN MUNICH: Neuer 8; Laimer 6, Upamecano 7, de Ligt 6, Davies 7; Sane 7, Kimmich 7, Muller 8, Guerreiro 6, Musiala 8; Kane 7. Subs: Coman 6, Tel 6, Goretzka n/a, Pavlovic n/a, Choupo-Moting n/a

HOFFENHEIM: Baumann 5; Nsoki 7, Kabak 6, Stach 6; Kaderabak 6, Promel 4, Grillitsch 6, Butler 6, Kramaric 6; Beier 7, Weghorst 4. Subs: Bebou n/a, Skov n/a, Tohumcu n/a, Becker n/a

18’ GOAL! BAYERN MUNICH 1-0 HOFFENHEIM (Jamal Musiala). Bayern take the lead as they play a corner short and work the ball to Musiala. Nobody comes to challenge him, and from a tight angle he slams a shot across the goalkeeper, who simply has to do better, and in off the post

56’ GOAL DISALLOWED. Kane is picked out on the right hand side of the area and he slides a low pass back to Sane, who converts into the bottom corner, but the flag is correctly raised for offside against the England striker.

58’ MUSIALA OFF THE WOODWORK! A thumping effort from the goalscorer leaves Baumann flat-footed in his goal. The ball thuds off the woodwork and nearly falls for Muller to bundle home.

63’ WHAT. A. SAVE! Manuel Neuer that is outrageous! The ball is nodded back to Beier, who, at point-blank range, looks destined to score as he heads goalwards, only for Neuer to somehow get a palm to it. Stunning.

66’ BEIER HITS THE BAR. How many chances do they need? Kramaric brilliantly flicks the ball over to Beier, who scoops goalwards from close range, only to hit the woodwork! Wow. What a let off.

70’ GOAL! BAYERN MUNICH 2-0 HOFFENHEIM (Musiala). Bayern double their lead! A lovely move, with Upamecano feeding inside to Musiala, who plays a one-two with Sane before slotting into the back of the net from a central position on the edge of the six-yard box. Game over?

74’ RED CARD TO PROMEL! A poor tackle on Tel, missing the ball and stamping on the foot of the substitute, and he receives his marching orders with a yellow card, having already been booked in the first half.

90’ GOAL! BAYERN MUNICH 3-0 HOFFENHEIM (Harry Kane). Just as the clock ticks towards 90 minutes, Harry Kane finally gets his goal. It’s far from his easiest chance of the night, but after receiving a pass on the half turn, he smashes past Baumann, finding the bottom corner from just inside the area.