Back to their rampant best in Friday’s 4-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, Bayern steamrollered Czech champions Plzen in a dominant first-half display at the Allianz Arena. Leroy Sane set the tone with a sensational run and arrowed 18-yard strike, before Bayern added a second. Manuel Neuer started a move which went through Alphonso Davies, Jamal Musiala and Leon Goretzka, and culminated in Serge Gnabry steering a precision finish past the goalkeeper. The chances in full flow, Mane got in on the act with a swerving run and emphatic left-footed hit. The VAR prevented Musiala from making it four, after Mane was adjudged to have been offside in the build-up.
Davies and Musiala were given the half-time hook with an eye on Saturday's trip to Borussia Dortmund, but Bayern showed no let-up after the restart. The second half was just five minutes old when Mane lofted an exquisite ball over the Plzen defence for Sane, who ghosted between the two centre-backs to control and finish in style. A fifth goal arrived when Goretzka collected from Mane and teed up substitute Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting for a clipped effort off the upright. Neuer was tested for the first time with over an hour gone, while substitute Marcel Sabitzer twice chanced his arm from range as Bayern eased off the pedal, a third straight Group C triumph long in the bag.
Match stats
Bayern have scored at least once in their last 39 home matches in the Champions League group stage, dating back to 2009 (0-2 vs. Bordeaux).
Mane has scored seven, and had seven ruled out in 13 appearances for Bayern.
Sane is Bayern's top scorer in this season's Champions League, with four goals in three games. He is the second Bayern player, after Robert Lewandowski (2019/20 and 2021/22) to score in the first three group games of a Champions League campaign.
Davies is now the Champions League's record Canadian appearance-maker (24 games).
Five of Choupo-Moting's eight Champions League goals have been as a substitute.
Bayern's record in European games against Czech clubs reads: W10, D2, L1. They've won all five of their previous meetings with Plzen.
Brilliant Bayern goal. Mane lofts a ball over the top of the defence for Sane. He controls whilst running between the two centre-backs and finishes with aplomb.
Mane has now scored seven goals, and had seven ruled out in 13 appearances for Bayern.
21'
MANE WITH THE THIRD!
Bayern are rampant. Mane collects a ball into his feet, swerving the challenges on his way into the box. He expertly shields the ball from a defender and thunders a fierce left-footed strike in at the goalkeeper's near post.
Gnabry bends a free-kick towards the top corner, prompting a fisted clearance from Tvrdon. That all came about following a mazy Mane run. All Plzen could do was foul him.
15'
CHANCE!
Bayern come again. Mane takes aim, but Tvrdon makes the stop. Plzen can't live with Bayern right now.
13'
GNABRY MAKES IT TWO!
A blistering turnover from Bayern results in the second goal. Neuer saves a Vlkanova effort, and bowls out to Davies. He motors forward as the ball's worked to Musiala. Goretzka helps it on to Gnabry, who controls in the area before side-footing past the advancing goalkeeper. Poetry in motion.
Bayern have now scored at least once in their last 39 home matches in the Champions League group stage, dating back to 2009 (0-2 vs. Bordeaux).
7'
IN-SANE GOAL!
Sane dribbles through the Plzen midfield, before arrowing a rocket into the top corner from 20 yards. Unstopppable in all senses. That's his third goal is as many Champions League games!
Bayern win their first corner after Goretzka's near-post cross is fended behind before Sane can pounce. De Ligt meets Gravenberch's ensuing cross, but his goalbound header is blocked.
2'
DE LIGT ON GUARD
Confident start by Plzen as a ball is clipped into the box from the left. De Ligt leaps in front of Chory to clear for a corner, which ends with a speculative punt into the stand behind Neuer's goal.
Kick-off!
MOMENT'S REFLECTION
The players assemble around the centre circle in a show of respect for those affected by the Indonesian stadium disaster that has claimed the lives of at least 125 people.
0:30
WATCH: DER KLASSIKER IS COMING
Bayern travel to Dortmund in Der Klassiker in four days' time. Victory for either side would send them top of the Bundesliga.
FOUR NOT OUT
Bayern's record in European games against Czech clubs reads: W9, D2, L1. They've won all four of their previous meetings with Plzen, most recently recording 5-0 and 1-0 triumphs in the 2013/14 groups under Pep Guardiola.
MICHAL BILEK FULL OF PRAISE FOR BAYERN
"Bayern have dropped points in the Bundesliga, but all the games were similar: Bayern had lots of chances, they had bad luck and the opposition keeper had a good day. All the teams who picked up a point against Bayern in the league were lucky. It's a massive club and it's a great honour and experience for us to be able to play here. We're all looking forward to it as we don't play teams like that often. The players are full of enthusiasm and that's the way it should be."
NAGELSMANN'S TAKE II
"I expect Plzen to defend very deep. They often play on the break in the league. They have two physically strong target men up front. They put in a lot of early crosses, a similar idea to Augsburg in attack, which is not always easy to defend against."
NAGELSMANN'S TAKE I
"I'm expecting a top performance, a very motivated performance. We want to continue what the players were doing very well against Leverkusen, including the focus in front of goal. We have to keep on picking up points. It's extremely important for our Champions League campaign to win the game against Plzen – and also to maintain the rhythm for the Dortmund game."
RECORD UP FOR GRABS
Bayern will set a new Champions League record for consecutive group games without defeat if they get a positive result. They currently hold the best-mark with Real Madrid (30 matches).
MORE ON THOSE TEAMS
Kimmich and Müller are missing for Bayern, so Goretzka and Gnabry come in. Nagelsmann also hands starts to Mazraoui and Gravenberch. Tvrdon starts in goal for the visitors, meanwhile, with Stanek only fit enough for the bench.
BAYERN STARTING LINE-UP
Neuer (c) - Mazraoui, Upamecano, de Ligt, Davies - Goretzka, Gravenberch - Sane, Musiala, Mane - Gnabry
