Reigning champions Bayern Munich kicked off their 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign underway with a 6-1 thrashing of the UEFA Europa League holders Eintracht Frankfurt. The Bavarians were five-nil up before the interval and two goals to the good by the ten-minute-mark.
Joshua Kimmich got the ball rolling with Bayern’s first goal of the domestic campaign in the fifth minute. The midfielder smartly whipped a free-kick from range past a wrong-footed Kevin Trapp to give his side the lead. Ten minutes in, right-back Benjamin Pavard made it two-nil to the Bavarians as he smashed the loose ball into the net from close range after Frankfurt failed to deal with a corner.
Frankfurt’s Tuta hit the bar from a set-piece at the other end while Jesper Lindstrom dragged his shot wide after tip-toeing his way through the Bayern defence. Between the two chances, Serge Gnabry and Thomas Muller missed the opportunity to put the Bavarians three-nil ahead, a two-on-one scenario going to waste because of the former’s under-hit pass and the latter’s unsorted feet.
But, Bayern did score their third 29 minutes in through Sadio Mane, who nodded home on his league debut from close range. The Senegalese was involved in Bayern’s fourth six minutes later as he released Muller who put the ball on a plate for Jamal Musiala to tap in. Gnabry, played through on goal by Muller again, chipped the ball over Trapp to make it five-nil in the 43rd minute.
Debutant Randal Kolo Muani pulled a goal back for the Europa League holders; the striker stole the ball off custodian Manuel Neuer outside the Bayern box and tapped it into an unguarded net. Nevertheless, Bayern completed the rout seven minutes from time when Musiala poked the ball past Trapp for his second and his team’s sixth.
