Three things we learned from Bayern Munich’s season opener | OneFootball

Bayern Munich started their defence of the Bundesliga title with a stunning 8-0 win over Schalke 04 at the Allianz Arena on Friday night.

The Bavarian giants ended the previous campaign on a 30-match unbeaten run as they won the treble for only the second time in their history.

Less a month after their Champions League success, Bayern turned on the style with a thumping victory over David Wagner’s side in the first game of the 2020/21 top-flight campaign.

Here are three things we learned:

Bayern Munich’s attacking quartet: Bayern started with the attacking quartet of Robert Lewandowski, Serge Gnabry, Thomas Muller and summer signing Leroy Sane and they were simply too good for the Schalke backline. Gnabry made the headlines with a hat-trick, but the others were equally impressive. Muller hit a milestone with his 200th Bayern goal alongside an assist. Lewandowski, meanwhile, made three goalscoring contributions including an outrageous rabona assist for 17-year-old Jamal Musiala, who scored off the bench. Sane likewise made his impact with one goal and two assists on debut against the club, where he began his professional career.

Joshua Kimmich’s midfield masterclass: With the recent departure of Thiago Alcantara to Liverpool, Kimmich inherited the number 6 shirt. The Germany international is regarded as one of the best central midfielders in the world and he produced a superb display against Schalke with 11 long balls and four key passes. He ended the game with a couple of assists to his name and he seems to have already lessened the blow of Alcantara heading through the exit door. Kimmich has previously featured in the right-back position to compensate for the injuries for Benjamin Pavard, but Bayern are aiming to avoid a similar situation this term by making a new signing. Ajax’s Sergino Dest has been earmarked as the prime transfer target.

David Wagner’s managerial future: Schalke 04 were as high as third during the first half of the previous season, but they dropped to 12th at the end of the campaign after going winless for 16 matches on the bounce where they picked up only six points. Despite this, the club decided against sacking Wagner, considering it would cost them nearly €5m. The decision has been proved wrong with the club’s embarrassment at the hands of Bayern on the road. The 8-0 defeat was the worst result in their history since 1966/67 season when Borussia Monchengladbach put 11 goals past them without reply. It remains to be seen whether how the board react to the humiliating loss.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com and Whoscored.com