BERLIN (AP) — The new Bundesliga began on Friday with eight-time defending champion Bayern Munich routing Schalke 8-0 in an empty stadium.
Germany winger Leroy Sané starred and scored on his Bayern debut and Portuguese forward Gonçalo Paciência started for Schalke, but otherwise it was business as usual as the Bavarian powerhouse totally dominated and the visitors tried limiting the damage.
Serge Gnabry scored a hat tick and Sané set up two of the goals. It was 3-0 by halftime and Bayern missed a host of chances.
“Everyone was so hungry. We were all looking forward to the new start and we just wanted to attack,” Sané said.
The game took place without fans despite plans for 7,500 spectators to attend. A spike in local coronavirus infections forced local authorities to row back.
“It’s a really big blow. We were really looking forward to our fans,” Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić said before kickoff.
The team showed no ill effect from the supporters’ absence, nor the short break of 26 days after winning the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Gnabry got Bayern off to a flying start in the fourth minute, taking Joshua Kimmich’s pass from midfield, switching direction to elude Schalke captain Benjamin Stambouli, then unleashing a fine strike with his left boot inside the left corner.
Robert Lewandowski almost made it 2-0 a minute later after being set up by Sané, but Sebastian Rudy managed to deflect the Poland striker’s shot with his outstretched leg.
Schalke managed to hold out until the 19th, when Leon Goretzka scored against his former side with Thomas Müller laying the ball back.
Lewandowski finally got off the mark from the penalty spot in the 31st, after he’d been fouled by Ozan Kabak.
Niklas Süle -– a central defender -– struck the post and Bayern missed other chances before the break, too.
Sané, who joined in the offseason from Manchester City, set up Gnabry’s second goal in the 47th -– his first assist for the club -– and repeated the trick to help his Germany teammate complete his hat trick in the 59th.
Lewandowski set up Müller in the 69th by wrapping his right boot behind his left leg, a rabona move, two minutes before Kimmich set up Sané for his first goal.
Sané made way for Jamal Musiala to make his second Bundesliga appearance in the 72nd. The 17-year-old English midfielder grabbed his first goal in the 81st.
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