Serge Gnabry scores hat-trick as Bayern Munich hit eight past Schalke to start 2020/21 season with win
Serge Gnabry hit a hat-trick with Robert Lewandowski, Leon Goretzka, Thomas Müller, Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala also on target as Bayern Munich got off to a flyer with an 8-0 win in the Bundesliga season-opener against Schalke.
Bayern 8-0 Schalke
Goals: 1-0 Gnabry (4'), 2-0 Goretzka (19'), 3-0 Lewandowski (pen. 31'), 4-0 Gnabry (47'), 5-0 Gnabry (59'), 6-0 Müller (69'), 7-0 Sane (71'). 8-0 Musiala (81')
Schalke made a bright start to the game, giving Manuel Neuer some early work with new-man Goncalo Paciencia's effort, but Bayern showed just why they have won the Bundesliga eight years in a row with a clinical opening goal on their first attack. Gnabry turned Schalke captain Benjamin Stambouli to make space for a left-foot shot which left Ralf Fährmann no chance. Lewandowski could have made it two just moments later, but Sebastian Rudy blocked his shot after Sane had been forced wide by Fährmann. The Royal Blues refused to throw in the towel, but Bayern doubled their lead with ruthless efficiency, Müller registering his first assist of the season by teeing up Goretzka to score against his former club. Ozan Kabak resorted to unauthorised means to prevent Lewandowski from making it three, but he merely delayed the inevitable as the Pole opened his account for the season from the penalty spot. Niklas Süle also struck the post before Schalke were given some relief by the half-time whistle.
Their relief lasted exactly 16 minutes and 15 seconds before Sane set up Gnabry for his second of the game and Bayern's fourth. The very same combination, almost in carbon-copy format, raised Bayern's lead to five goals with Gnabry completing his first ever Bundesliga hat-trick on the hour mark. It was soon showboat time for Bayern as Lewandowski teed up Müller to volley in a sixth with a rabona assist, before Joshua Kimmich sent Sane through to make it seven. Musiala and Chris Richards were both sent on as Hansi Flick afforded himself the luxury of giving Gnabry, Sane and Jerome Boateng an early rest, but the goals kept coming with Musiala opening his Bundesliga account with an accomplished finish to complete a result which will send more shivers down the spines of the record champions' rivals, both at home and abroad.
Match stats
- Gnabry scored the quickest goal in a season-opening fixture since Bart Goor's first-minute strike for Hertha Berlin against Borussia Dortmund in 2002.
- The Germany international scored his first ever Bundesliga hat-trick.
- Lewandowski has opened his account on the first day of seven of his 11 Bundesliga seasons, matching the record of Klaus Fischer.
- The Pole now has 163 Bundesliga goals, one more than Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and second only to Gerd Müller on Bayern's all-time top-scorer classification.
- The Royal Blues are among the 32-year-old's favourite opponents: he has 20 goals in 20 outings against them.
- Musiala, 17, became Bayern's youngest ever Bundesliga goalscorer.
- No team had ever scored more than six goals in their first game of a new Bundesliga season.
Watch: Gnabry: "That's how we want to continue"
Line-ups
Bayern: Neuer (c) - Pavard, Süle, Boateng (Richards 73'), Hernandez - Kimmich, Goretzka (Tolisso 51') - Gnabry (Musiala 73'), Müller (Zirkzee 82'), Sane (Cuisance 73') - Lewandowski
Unused subs: Ulreich, Nübel, Davies, Martinez
Out: Alaba (muscular), Coman (not included), Nianzou (thigh)
Coach: Hansi Flick
Schalke: Fährmann - Rudy, Kabak, Stambouli (c), Oczipka - Serdar (Schöpf 30'), Bentaleb - Uth, Harit (Becker 79'), Matondo (Raman 65') - Paciencia (Skrzybski 79')
Unused subs: Schubert, Mendyl, Thiaw, Ibisevic, Kutucu
Out: Mascarell (match fitness), Nastasic (head injury), Sane (knee)
Coach: David Wagner
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