TSG 1899 Hoffenheim – Bayern Munich: Ruthless Bayern Demolish Sorry Hoffenheim (0-6)

Bayern Munich’s fans have achieved some feat overshadowing their side’s performances this week through their vitriol towards Hoffenheim investor Dietmar Hopp. Although this controversy marred the day, the display of Hansi Flick’s team was a ruthless performance that both put a weak opponent to the sword and emphasized their title credentials once more.

Tactical analysis by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere.

For TSG 1899 Hoffenheim the transition from Julian Nagelsmann to his former assistant Alfred Schreuder as manager has been a challenging one. Currently lying in eighth place, their inconsistency under the Dutch manager has been demonstrated by their erratic form since January with two wins, a draw and three losses in their last six league fixtures. 

Meanwhile Bayern Munich have looked imperious under interim manager Hansi Flick. Since their return from the winter break, Flick’s side have gained sixteen of the last eighteen available points in the league. Coming into this game after an emphatic victory against Chelsea mid-week in the Champions League, three points for Bayern Munich would sustain their lead at the top of the table over RasenBallsport Leipzig.

Alfred Schreuder set up TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in a 4-2-3-1 shape, making only one change to the eleven that started in last week’s draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach; Ihlas Bebou deputized in the place of the injured Munas Dabbur as the team’s center forward. 

Likewise, Flick lined up Bayern Munich in a 4-2-3-1 shape displaying two enforced changes from their midweek game against Chelsea. Both talismanic striker Robert Lewandowski and right winger Kingsley Coman sustained injuries against Chelsea. Hence, Philippe Coutinho started as the left winger, Serge Gnabry moved to . . .