Late Lewandowski & Robben goal helped Niko Kovac secure a first Bundesliga victory in charge of Bayern Munich as the champions commenced their title defence with a nervy 3-1 win over Hoffenheim on Friday.
2018/2019 Bundesliga
3-1
Match Events
23' GOAL! Bayern Munich 1-0 Hoffenheim (Muller)
Goal! Bayern 1-0 Hoffenheim. Muller scores the first goal of the new Bundesliga season for Bayern and he may not get an easier one! The corner finds the Germany internatioinal at the near post and he is able to head home while standing still..
33' CHANCE! Joelinton's shot wide out
Hoffenheim finally create an opening and a low cross from Schulz picks out Joelinton but the youngster misses from inside the box. He allowed it to come across his body but then sliced his shot wide of the target.
36' WHAT A CHANCE! Coman's shot saved
SAVE - Coman dribbles his way past a Hoffenheim defender before running towards goal but Hoffenheim keeper Baumann made himself big and produced a solid save. It remains 1-0!
45' Robben now on the field of play as Coman heads into the tunnel
53' CHANCE! Robben's shot wide out
55' OFFSIDE! Lewandowski's goal disallowed
GOAL DISALLOWED - Kimmich plays in Lewandowski who is left unmarked and the Pole slots it home. However, the flag goes up and play will resume.
57' GOAL! Bayern Munich 1-1 Hoffenheim (Szalai)
GOAAALLL Bayern 1-1 Hoffenheim. The Allianz Arena falls silent as Szalai thumps the ball into the far corner. Some shocking defending from Boateng allows the striker in and he smashes it across goal and past Neuer.
82' Penalty Goal! Bayern Munich 2-1 Hoffenheim (Lewandowski)
CHAOS IN MUNICH!!! Lewandowski is denied thanks to a save from Baumann but Robben taps home. HOWEVER, the referee has used VAR to check the incident and he now wants the penalty to be retaken!
GOAL Bayern 2-1 Hoffenheim. Finally the goal is confirmed but it is Lewandowski that gets on the scoresheet. The striker missed his first attempt and he uses another staggered approach but goes the opposite way to score.
89' Muller's goal disallowed!
GOAL DISALLOWED - Bayern make it 3-1 after Goretzka's piledriver hits Muller and deflects in. The home side celebrate but the referee makes his way to the sideline to consider VAR again. After a few seconds he has decided that was intentional handball! 2-1 it remains.
90' GOAL! Bayern Munich 3-1 Hoffenheim (Robben)
GAME OVER 3-1 Bayern!!!! Robben finally grabs the third for the home side and it was very simple for the home side. A throw-in from the right was not dealt with by Hoffenheim and Robben latches onto a through ball to thump it home!
Match Reports
Niko Kovac secured a first Bundesliga victory in charge of Bayern Munich as the champions commenced their title defence with a nervy 3-1 win over Hoffenheim on Friday.
Robert Lewandowski converted an 82nd minute penalty at the second attempt before Arjen Robben struck in stoppage time to seal all three points.
It appeared as though new boss Kovac, who replaced Jupp Heynckes at the end of last term, would be forced to settle for a point when Adam Szalai produced a classy 57th-minute finish to cancel out Thomas Muller's earlier header.
But the reigning champions, who lost Kingsley Coman to a concerning ankle injury, were given a lifeline when substitute Havard Nordtveit brought down Franck Ribery with under 10 minutes remaining.
Lewandowski, who has recently been vocal in the press about feeling unsupported by Bayern, had his first attempt at the winner saved by Oliver Baumann, and Robben's successful follow-up was ruled out for encroachment.
The prolific Poland striker was subsequently sent back to the spot and made no mistake at the second attempt as Robben eventually joined him on the scoresheet with a clinical finish at the death.
Line-ups
Bayern München XI: Ribéry, M. Neuer, J.Martínez, J. Boateng, Alaba, T. Müller, R. Lewandowski, Thiago Alcântara, N. Süle, J. Kimmich, Coman
Subs: Robben, Rafinha, M. Hummels, S. Ulreich, Wagner, J. Rodríguez, L. Goretzka
Hoffenheim XI: Oliver Baumann, Szalai, Vogt, Bicakcic, Kaderábek, Schulz, Bittencourt, Grillitsch, V. Grifo, Joelinton, Kasim Nuhu
Subs: Nordtveit, S. Zuber, Belfodil, Akpoguma, Joshua Brenet, G. Kobel, D. Otto