Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich scored six as they destroy Werder Bremen at the Allianz Arena as Philippe Coutinho scored a brilliant hat-trick.
The Bavarians got back to winning ways after two back-to-back defeats from Bayer Leverkusen and Monchengladbach, respectively, as they thump Bremen 6-1.
Interim manager Hansi Flick deployed a 4-3-3 formation using Joshua Kimmich in the middle of the park to serve as a defensive option while Thiago Alcantara and Leon Groetzka lined up laterally ahead of the german Midfielder.
Bayern’s number one shot-stopper Manuel Neuer started in between the sticks as he had the likes of Benjamin Pavard, Jerome Boateng, David Alaba, and Alphonso Davies shielding the back zone. As the attacks comprise of the regular Serge Gnabry, Robert Lewandowksi, and Philippe Coutinho.
The visiting team [Werder Bremen] came with an attacking formation of 3-1-4-2 but later used a defensive approach to keep the Bavarians at bay. However, the German champions still found a way to break them down as the floodgates of goals were open.
From the blast of the whistle, Bayern launched an outright attacking style as [Alphonso] Davies sprinted forward to connect with a through ball from the left side, which he squared to the onrushing Coutinho as he curled it over the bar.
Bayern controlled the proceedings of the game in a brilliant manner plying with the high defensive line and had approximately 70%of the ball to themselves for most of the first 15 minutes. However, Bremen failed to convert an opportunity which fell to Milot Rashica after a misplaced corner led to a counter-attack as he slipped in the box.
Fifteen minutes later, Bremen scored a goal through Rashica with a top right corner finish.
Bayern got an equalizer after Coutinho converted with a tap in from Gnabry’s chipped effort.
Flick made a change as the “poor” Boateng was substituted for Ivan Perisic. This move paid off as this gave Kimmich the freedom at the right-back as Pavard shifted to the heart of the defence. Minutes later, Lewandowski put the team ahead as Coutinho got another with the icing on the cake 12 minutes later.
Written by: Olumide Akinnifesi