The Citizen (Gauteng)

Sweet revenge for red-hot Bayern

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Frankfurt – A brilliant hat-trick from Robert Lewandowsk­i (right) led Bayern Munich to a comfortabl­e 5-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in Sunday’s German Supercup, giving former Frankfurt coach Niko Kovac a memorable start to his reign.

Kovac returned to Frankfurt for his first competitiv­e game in charge of the Bundesliga winners, having ended two successful years at Eintracht with a shock win over Bayern in last season’s German Cup final.

Yet there was no time for sentimenta­lity as Bayern took revenge for their cup humiliatio­n, Lewandowsk­i leaving the Frankfurt defence in tatters.

“It was a really good performanc­e today, we scored at all the right moments,” Kovac told ZDF.

“Of course I feel some sympathy for my former players and my former club, but I think it will still be a good season for Frankfurt.”

A ruthless Bayern took the lead with their first chance on 21 minutes.

Joshua Kimmich’s cross picked out Lewandowsk­i at the far post and the Polish star fired a header across Frederik Roennow in the Frankfurt goal. The striker nodded in a second from almost exactly the same position five minutes later, heading Arjen Robben’s corner past the stranded Roennow.

There was no stopping Lewandowsk­i, however, who danced free of Abraham to rifle in his third goal on 54 minutes.

Kovac’s perfect evening was sealed in the 63rd minute when Kingsley Coman bundled in Bayern’s fourth.

The new Bayern coach had focused on low crosses in training the week before, and watched happily on as David Alaba’s low cross found Coman at the far post to make it 4-0.

Thiago delivered the final flourish five minutes from time, gratefully receiving a pass from Coman to slot home Bayern’s fifth.

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