Youngest coach in Bundesliga gives Bayern Munich a lesson
The youngest coach in the Bundesliga is showing the others how it's done.
Julian Nagelsmann, who is only 29, led Hoffenheim to a 1-1 draw at Bayern Munich yesterday, maintaining his side's club-record unbeaten run and staying within four points of the league leader.
"We're going there to be successful," Nagelsmann had declared bullishly before the trip to Munich, though he also needed some luck with both Mats Hummels and Thomas Mueller hitting the post late for a tired-looking Bayern.
Nagelsmann, Hoffenheim's former under-19s coach, has revolutionized his side's fortunes since taking over the senior squad with the side second from bottom in February.
Kerem Demirbay fired the visitors ahead in the 16th minute with a brilliant strike to the top left corner from Nadiem Amiri's cross. Kevin Vogt started the move by cutting through Bayern's midfield with a fine pass.
Bayern had chances through Rafinha and Thiago Alcantara but the visitors appeared untroubled until Steven Zuber deflected Douglas Costa's cross for the lurking Robert Lewandowski through his own goalkeeper's legs in the 34th.
Germany forward Mueller is still chasing his first league goal of the season.
HAMBURGER SV 2, BORUSSIA DORTMUND 5
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored four goals to spoil the 80th birthday celebrations for former Germany great Uwe Seeler by leading Borussia Dortmund to a rout of Hamburger SV.
Seeler, who scored 137 Bundesliga goals for Hamburg after the league's inception in 1963, watched as Aubameyang's four goals left his side bottom of the table with just two points from 10 games.
Aubameyang fired Dortmund ahead in the fourth minute. Christian Pulisic breezed past a defender and crossed for Emre Mor, whose shot was saved by Rene Adler with the rebound landing at Aubameyang's foot to score.
His second was just as simple some 20 minutes later. A mistake from Hamburg captain Johan Djourou allowed Mor through to cross, and Aubameyang completed his hat trick minutes later when Adler's kick out was headed straight back for the Gabon forward to run onto.
Aubameyang's fourth came after the break, set up by Pulisic, and he almost made it five straight afterward when he fired wide with only Adler to beat.
Nicolai Mueller pulled one back for Hamburg and Michael Gregoritsch then had another goal ruled out for a perceived foul on Matthias Ginter.
Dortmund substitute Ousmane Dembele killed any hopes of an unlikely comeback before Mueller salvaged some Hamburg pride with his second.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN 3, DARMSTADT 2
Hakan Calhanoglu opened the scoring with a fine strike in off the left post after half an hour played, but Antonio-Mirko Colak equalized after the interval.
Julian Brandt restored the home side's lead shortly afterward before Charles Aranguiz secured the win.
Darmstadt substitute Mario Vrancic claimed the visitors' consolation.