MUNICH: Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala scored twice and Harry Kane added a late goal to give the champions a 3-0 victory over Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga restart on Friday as the club remembered Germany great Franz Beckenbauer who died last week.
Beckenbauer, who spent the majority of his career at Bayern and helped establish them as a European powerhouse, died on Sunday at the age of 78.
He was laid to rest just hours before kickoff, with Bayern honouring his memory with several tributes for the German football legend.
Musiala, born two decades after Beckenbauer retired from the game in 1983, scored in each half to ensure the home side honoured his memory in the best possible fashion.
Bundesliga top scorer Harry Kane was on target in stoppage time to take his league tally to 22 goals to equal Robert Lewandowski’s all-time league record for most goals at the halfway stage of a Bundesliga season.
The Bavarians are in second place in the standings on 41 points, one behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
“It was a great game. We had possession a lot and did good counter-pressing,” Musiala said. “We could have created more chances, we are all hungry. The most important thing is that we kept a clean sheet and got the three points.”
The Germany international was assisted both times by Leroy Sane, who has set up 10 league this season.
Before kick-off on Friday, players and 75,000 fans observed a minute’s silence in memory of Beckenbauer, one of only three men to have won the World Cup as a player and a coach.
“It’s not easy to find the right words” an emotional Bayern veteran Thomas Mueller said, recognising that playing after the tributes was “a bit strange, of course.”
“Not only people from the Bayern family, but everyone from around the planet acknowledged Franz Beckenbauer. He did everything for [Bayern] and we can only say thanks.”
Bayern dominated possession early and their relentless pressure paid off in the 18th minute when Musiala threaded a shot in off the post from a tight angle.
With new signing Eric Dier not yet in the squad, Bayern kept up the pressure and Musiala put the result beyond doubt with 20 minutes remaining, tapping in a Sane pass to double the lead.
Hoffenheim were reduced to ten men shortly after when Grischa Proemel picked up a second yellow card and Kane’s left-footed shot in stoppage time sealing Bayern’s win.
Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2024