Jude Bellingham flung his arms in despair and kicked a goal post, Bayern Munich’s supporters hooted and hollered in disbelief but, through it all, Thomas Tuchel barely flinched.
What should have been the most challenging opening assignment for the former Chelsea manager — the ultimate showdown in Germany and, almost certainly, a title decider against his old club — turned into the kind of evening that he would have only thought possible in his dreams.
Bayern didn’t just beat Borussia Dortmund 4-2, they skewered them to such an extent you wondered how the team in yellow and black had arrived in Bavaria as league leaders.
Tuchel’s new team were fast, furious and full of threat — but the helping hand they received from Dortmund or, more specifically, their hapless goalkeeper Gregor Kobel could not be ignored.
He missed the ball when attempting to clear and watched in agony as Leroy Sane shepherded it into a gaping net for Bayern’s opener.
The hosts were out of sight with two in seven minutes from Thomas Muller, both of which Kobel should have prevented. Kingsley Coman made it four in the second half.
Dortmund got one back with an Emre Can penalty, earned by Bellingham, then Donyell Malen poked a shot in on the final whistle but it was too little, too late.
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