MY ACCOUNT
Sadio Mane scored his first Bundesliga goal as Bayern Munich opened the new campaign with a stunning 6-1 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Europa League winners Frankfurt seemed a tricky first opponent for the champions, but Julian Nagelsmann’s side swept them aside in sensational style.
Having defeated RB Leipzig 5-3 in the DFL-Supercup in their first competitive match after Robert Lewandowski’s departure last week, Bayern were five up by half-time on Friday – Joshua Kimmich, Benjamin Pavard, Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry joining Mane on the scoresheet.
Manuel Neuer’s sloppiness gifted Randal Kolo Muani a consolation, yet it was a minor blip in a supreme Bayern display, and Musiala capped things off with his second late on.
Bayern had full control by the 10th minute. Kimmich fooled Kevin Trapp with a long-range free-kick that clipped in off the right-hand upright, before Pavard lashed in his second goal in as many games.
Juventus-linked Filip Kostic teed up a golden chance for Frankfurt to drag themselves back into contention, only for Tuta to head against the woodwork, which then denied Bayern a third after Gnabry’s poor pass sold Thomas Muller short in front of goal.
Another glorious Eintracht chance went begging due to Jesper Lindstrom’s profligacy, but Bayern had their third after Trapp had parried Musiala’s effort onto the crossbar – Mane stooping low to head in Gnabry’s cross.
Mane turned architect for Bayern’s fourth six minutes later, drawing out the Frankfurt defence and finding Muller, who squared for Musiala, and it was five before half-time when Gnabry squeezed home.
Kristijan Jakic, one of three half-time Frankfurt substitutes, thought he had pulled a goal back in the 56th minute, yet it was disallowed for offside.
Neuer hardly covered himself in glory in that incident, and Bayern’s captain was entirely at fault eight minutes later when he was bundled off the ball by Kolo Muani.
Musiala had the final say, though, tucking in after Leroy Sane’s exquisite pass to add further gloss to a statement win.
What does it mean? No Lewy, no problem
Bayern have now gone unbeaten in their opening league fixture for 11 straight seasons – they went on to win the title in each of the previous 10.
Although Bayern have lost more times away to Frankfurt than they have any other team (23), they were in top gear from the off, and there was never any danger of another defeat.
Lewandowski may have gone, but Bayern’s attack – spearheaded by Mane and the evergreen Muller, who matched Hans Georg Schwarzenbeck’s 416 Bundesliga outings for Bayern (the second-most among outfield players) and finished with two assists – looks scintillating.
Magical Mane off to a flyer
In five of his six Premier League campaigns for Liverpool, Mane scored in his first away game of the season, including on his Reds debut in a 4-3 win at Arsenal in August 2016.
The Senegal forward always seemed likely to start fast in Germany, and he has done just that. He is the first player to score in his maiden Bundesliga away game for Bayern since Joshua Zirkzee did so against Freiburg in December 2019, while Mario Mandzukic, in 2012, was the last Bayern player to score in his first two appearances for the club in all competitions.
Few home comforts for Frankfurt
Friday’s game was the ninth example of an away team scoring five before half-time in Bundesliga history, and Bayern are responsible for four of those occasions.
But in truth, they were helped by a woeful defensive display from their hosts. Frankfurt picked up just 19 points at home (W4 D7 L6) last season, bettering only the two relegated sides in Arminia Bielefeld and Greuther Furth, and Oliver Glasner must strike a better balance.
What’s next?
Bayern host Wolfsburg in their second Bundesliga game of the season, while Frankfurt travel to Helsinki for the small matter of facing Champions League winners Real Madrid in the Super Cup.
