Bundesliga Player Ratings | Bayern Munich 5-1 Hoffenheim | OneFootball

A highly anticipated Bundesliga match on Sunday evening proved somewhat anticlimactic as Bayern Munich ended up easily dispatching visiting Hoffenheim 5-1 at the Allianz Arena. Bayern entered the affair having dropped points in two consecutive matches, adding a slight bit of spice to the Bundesliga title race as challengers Borussia pulled within three points of the top. 

The mighty German record champions still managed to restore their six-point cushion at the top with the lopsided win. One had the impression that much remained possible during an action-packed first half during which shorthanded Hoffenheim managed to keep it competitive, but Vincent Kompany’s FCB literally wrapped matters up just after the hour-mark.

Bayern storm out of the gate

Both sides were actually quite active in an opening ten minutes that resembled short-field “cage football”. As the ball found its way deep into both ends, however, it was the Bavarian hosts who produced the more memorable chances. Josip Stanisic, Serge Gnabry, and Michael Olise all got looks at goal in. Hoffenheim weren’t necessarily slouches either, but Bayern racked up more points in the xG battle. Ilzer’s guests then looked to be undone by a very controversial refereeing decision in the 17th minute. 

A penalty and questionable red card

Hoffenheim’s Kevin Akpoguma – forced into his first Bundesliga start of the season due to a wave of illness in the TSG camp – found his day-at-the-office cut short when match official Tobias Stieler sent him off on a straight red card. Akpoguma and Diaz got into a tussle in front of the TSG net. Replays confirmed that Akpoguma and Diaz both tugged on one another as they both went down to the deck. Stieler nevertheless ruled that Akpoguma denied Diaz a clear goal-scoring chance. The result was a sending off. 

Shorthanded Hoffenheim punch back

As is treated as given at this point, Kane duly converted the 1-0 from the spot in the 20th. Kane unfortunately missed a golden chance to put the game to bed, missing an absolute sitter in front of an empty net. Apart from Kane’s chance (and another fine effort from Davies), however, it was the squad reduced to ten-men that looked better. TSG fullback Vladimir Coufal sent in some exquisite crosses from the right. Ozan Kabak (wide, 25th) and Fisnik Asllani (post, 29th) narrowly missed on an equalizer. 

Manuel Neuer commits a howler

The highly deserved equalizer came in the 35th-minute. It would not come from a true piece of quality from Coufal, however. Instead, Manuel Neuer botched a clearance with a short chip directly at Asllani. The TSG striker only had to slot over to a wide open Andrej Kramaric. Hoffenheim’s celebrated “club man” grabbed yet another goal against the Bundesliga club he likes scoring against the most via the easy 1-1. Regrettably, the courageous fight back from the shorthanded underdogs would be short-lived. 

Luis Diaz doubles down

Bayern’s Colombian summer addition would undo the guests before the break. In the 44th, Diaz drew his second penalty of the evening via another tangle (this time with Coufal) that featured contract from both players. Kane confidently converted the 2-1 from the spot in the 45th. Diaz then netted the 3-1 at 45+3. Kane did a magnificent job setting his former Premier League colleague by picking up a ball on a deep midfield drop and charging across the pitch himself on a “one-man counterattack”.  

Diaz slams the door shut

The two sides (Kane, 51st and Asllani, 57th) traded chances after the restart until Diaz scored the goal that placed a “lid” on the match. Kane was once again involved in the lead up to the 62nd-minute 4-1, polished off by Diaz after a nice cutback from Olise. Bayern generated some more chances after that against a TSG team that largely gave up and downshifted into first-gear.

Diaz completed his hat trick in the 89th minute with a nice distance effort on the 5-1.

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim Player Ratings

Oliver Baumann (7) –  Albian Hajdari (6), Ozan Kabak (6), Kevin Akpoguma (4),  Vladimir Coufal (8) – Leon Avdullahu (5) – Grischa Prömel (5), Andrej Kramaric (7) – Alexander Prass (4), Bazoumana Touré (4)  – Fisnik Asllani (6)

Substitutes: Ihlas Bebou (-), Valentin Gendrey (-), Muhammed Damar (-), Max Moerstedt (-), Luka Duric (-)

FC Bayern Munich Player Ratings

Manuel Neuer (5) –  Alphonso Davies (6), Jonathan Tah (6), Dayot Upemecano (5), Josip Stanisic (6) – Aleksandar Pavlovic (5) Joshua Kimmich (6) – Luis Diaz (8), Serge Gnabry (6), Michael Olise (8)  –  Harry Kane (9)

Substitutes:  Lennart Karl (-), Jamal Musiala (-), Hiroki Ito (-), Nicolas Jackson (-), Konrad Laimer (-)

GGFN Player of the Match: Harry Kane (9)

Yes, Diaz recorded scorer points on all five Bayern goals. His two drawn penalties enabled the 29-year-old to finish with a “full-house” of three goals and two assists. The fact that the two penalties contained some theatrics still counts against him; at least from those who concern themselves with “fair play”. 

Kane’s two penalty takes left German national team keeper Oliver Baumann with zero chance of saving from the spots. The “one-man-counterattack” that enabled Diaz to score the backbreaking 3-1 just before the break was simply world class football from a world class footballer. 

GGFN | Peter Weis