Bayern Munich opened their German league campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win at newly promoted Greuther Fuerth yesterday on the opening weekend of the Bundesliga’s 50th season.
Greuther Fuerth were making their Bundesliga debut and held their famous Bavarian neighbours for most of the first half until their defence finally cracked as goals from Thomas Mueller, Mario Mandzukic and Arjen Robben secured the win.
With half-time looming, new Bayern Munich signing Dante headed down from a corner and although Fuerth defender Heinrich Schmidtgal cleared off the line, Germany star Mueller was on hand to stab home.
Bayern doubled their lead in the 58th minute when Robben attacked the Fuerth defence on the right and after his shot was parried by Max Gruen, Mandzukic was on hand to head behind the goalkeeper and make it 2-0.
Since signing from Wolfsburg, the Croatia striker has scored four goals in three games for Bayern, including two in Monday’s 4-0 German Cup first-round win at Jahn Regensburg.
Robben claimed the third 12 minutes from time with a spectacular shot from the left side of the goal that curled inside the near post from a tight angle.
Borussia M’gladbach responded after their home defeat by Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League play-off first leg with a 2-1 victory at home to Hoffenheim.
Striker Mike Hanke headed home on 33 minutes, only for Hoffenheim’s Roberto Firmino to equalise with a header on 66 minutes, but Gladbach’s Venezuela midfielder Juan Arango unleashed a spectacular free-kick on 79 minutes to claim the points.
Hamburg’s season got off to a bad start with a 1-0 defeat at home to Nuremberg, whose new signing Hanno Balitsch, freshly arrived from Leverkusen, grabbed the winner 22 minutes from time.
Nuremberg goalkeeper and captain Raphael Schaefer must take some credit for the three points with a series of fine saves, especially to deny Hamburg captain Heiko Westermann’s header 18 minutes from time.
Striker Dani Schahin had an afternoon to remember with both second-half goals for newly promoted Fortuna Duesseldorf in their 2-0 win at Augburg.
The 23-year-old spent most of last season on the bench at Fuerth, but he got his new club’s Bundesliga campaign off to a flying start with two well-taken goals.
In the afternoon’s other game, Freiburg were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Mainz.
Results
Augsburg vs F. Dusseldorf - 0-2
Freiburg vs Mainz - 1-1
G. Furth vs B. Munich - 0-3
Hamburg vs Nuremberg - 0-1
B. M’gladbach vs Hoffenheim - 2-1
E. Frankfurt vs B. Leverkusen - 2-1
Stuttgart vs Wolfsburg - 0-1