MUNICH: Bayern Munich kicked off their bid for an unprecedented fourth straight Bundesliga title by cruising past hapless Hamburger SV 5-0 on Friday as new signing Douglas Costa shone on his league debut.

Bayern’s established campaigners Robert Lewandowski, Medhi Benatia and Thomas Mueller, who netted twice, grabbed Bayern’s first four goals with Brazil winger Costa adding the fifth to seal a show-stopping performance.

Costa, who Bayern coach Pep Guardiola has said can be the best winger in the world, showed why the champions paid Shakhtar Donetsk 30 million Euros ($33.3m) for him in July.

The 24-year-old chested down a long pass before firing in a cross which led to Bayern’s third goal, then hit the back of the next with a crisp left-footed shot on 87 minutes.

“He’s a superb player, I understand him very well already and he’s just going to get better with each game,” was Lewandowski’s verdict on Costa.

Costa terrorised the Hamburg defence down the left wing with his speed while Chile international Arturo Vidal, who joined from Juventus in the close season, coolly orchestrated the attacks from midfield.

“I am happy with the debuts of Douglas Costa and Arturo Vidal, they have a lot of quality and experience,” said Guardiola. “They will help Bayern Munich a lot.”

Benatia scored the first goal by heading in a free kick from Xabi Alonso in the 27th minute and Bayern doubled the lead in the 53rd when Lewandowski fired home from close range.

Mueller headed the third goal following a surging Costa run and a superb left-footed cross in the 69th and added his second goal of the evening in the 73rd, rounding keeper Rene Adler after good work from Lewandowski.

Costa then capped a memorable Bundesliga debut with a goal when he drilled the ball in from the edge of the box three minutes from time.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2015

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