Bundesliga table-toppers and defending champions, Bayern Munich, on Saturday visited Hoffenheim as they crushed the visitors by six unanswered goals.
The Bavarians opened the floodgates early in the game. They were three-nil up within fifteen minutes as the match ended with six goals.
However, the game was interrupted for twenty minutes as the Munich fans unveiled an offensive banner, which caused a lot of stir within the stands.
The win pushed Bayern four points adrift on top of the Bundesliga table. The big win could have been flushed down the drain in the 79th minute when the Bavarian fans unveiled and displayed a banner aimed at dig towards Hoffenheim investor Dietmar Hopp.
The referee immediately took a step as he ordered both teams back to the tunnel while some Bayern players moved towards the stands to try and calm the supporters down to remove the banner put in the display.
The game resumed after 20 minutes as both teams returned to the field of play, but not to the excitement of which it started as the game ended in a standing ovation for Hopp and Bayern Chief executive Officer- Karl Heinz Rummenigge standing side by side as a gesture of solidarity.
Bayern CEO Rummenigge told reporters after the game saying he was disappointed for the rude behavior of the Munich fans. ” it’s intolerable and a shame to football. I have made an apology to Dietmar Hopp, and we will deal with those responsible for such actions.”
With the absence of top scorer Robert Lewandowski, things still worked out fine with the Bundesliga champions. The likes of Serge Gnabry rose to the occasion as he scored with a volley in the second minute before Joshua Kimmich added to the scoreline five minutes later. Teenage sensation Joshua Zirkzee made it three-nil before Coutinho’s brace, and Leon Groetzka completed the rout.
Written by: Olumide Akinnifesi