Bayern Munich 6 Werder Bremen 0: Robert Lewandowski’s hat-trick gets Carlo Ancelotti’s reign off to a flier
Bavaria giants romp to victory in Bundesliga opener and send out message to domestic and Champions League rivals
CARLO ANCELOTTI’S Bayern Munich reign got off to an absolute flier as the champions hammered Werder Bremen 6-0 in their Bundesliga opener.
The winners of the last five campaigns will take some beating after laying down a marker at the Allianz Arena.
After wins and clean sheets in the Super Cup and German Cup first round, they followed suit in the league.
Bayern were on top from the off and it looked just a matter of time until they opened the scoring.
The goal scorer and source and quality was less expected.
Werder — camped in their own box — attempted in vein to clear but the ball landed at the midriff of Xabi Alonso.
Despite the awkward angle, he casually shifted his position the control it perfectly and volley the ball into the top corner with his second touch.
Werder’s hopes of a first victory over Bayern looked dead and buried after just 13 minutes when their attempts to play Robert Lewandowski offside backfired.
The lethal Pole was afforded half of the entire half and, when left one-on-one made no mistake — despite what seemed like a tight angle.
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Werder made it to the interval without conceding more, which must have felt like a victory in itself.
But just Lewandowski doubled his tally just one minute into the second half when he got on the end of Thomas Muller’s cross.
It was a matter of when a fourth would come as Bayern toyed with their opponents.
And it came through another unlikely source.
Philipp Lahm exchanged passes with Muller to rifle just his 15th goal in 481 Bayern games to make it four.
And it was five on 73 minutes as Franck Ribery drilled home unmarked from just on the penalty spot.
Again it was Muller with the assist.
The German striker — who failed to score at Euro 2016 and even missed a spot-kick in a shoot-out — was enduring a difficult night in front of goal.
But it was a different story for Lewandowski.
Four minutes after Ribery’s goal, Thiago Alcantara was manhandled in the box and the Pole coolly converted to complete his hat-trick.
Bayern will take some stopping this season — domestically and in the Champions League.