5-Star Bayern devour Hamburger SV

style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: 600;"Fri 25th Jan, 2013

Allianz Arena, Munich - Bayern Munich made massive strides up the Bundesliga table on Saturday with a 5-0 demolition of a desolate Hamburger SV side (HSV). The convincing win takes FCB up to second spot - though Mainz and Hanover 96 can overtake them on Sunday.

Ex-HSV defender Daniel van Buyten, preferred to Jerome Boateng in the starting line-up, opened the goal-fest with a soaring header on 13 minutes from Arjen Robben's free-kick.

Frenchman Franck Ribéry, enjoying his 100th league game for the record champions, doubled the lead on 17 minutes after taking advantage at the back-post after the HSV defence were once again slow to react in the searing Bavarian heat.

Robben rounded off a dashing first-half display with the goal of the match on 34 minutes. The Dutch winger bobbed and weaved his way in from the right touchline before delivering a sublime scoop over the onrushing HSV goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny. It was another trademark Robben finish to match his Champions League goal against Zurich in midweek.

Thomas Müller seemed to be suffering a crisis of confidence in front of goal and squandered a host of chances as well as hitting a post just before the break.

Mario Gomez, the Bundesliga's leading marksman last time around, opened his account for this campaign on 56 minutes, combining with Müller before beating Drobny from an almost impossible angle.

Robben and Ribéry were both given a breather and substituted early to standing ovations with Coach Jupp Heynckes perhaps having one eye on sterner tests ahead.

It was left to another former HSV player Ivica Olic to apply the finishing touch to the rout with a close-range header with ten minutes remaining. It was the diminutive Croatian striker's first Bundesliga goal since May 2010.

New HSV Director of Football Frank Arnesen lavished praise on an "outstanding, world-class Bayern Munich side."

Man-of-the-match Robben was more under-stated. "If you were being critical, you could say we definitely could have scored a few more goals," he said. "But we can still be very pleased with the way we played today."

5-0 the final score and the visitors were lucky to get nil! HSV are now winless in ten games and - on this form - have a real relegation fight on their hands.


Write a comment ...
Post comment
Cancel