Hoffenheim 0-2 Bayern Munich: Die Roten move to within point of Bundesliga summit
By Sean Walsh
Bayern Munich's recent resurgence continued with a comfortable 2-0 win away at Hoffenheim.
Julian Nagelsmann's men have now won four straight in all competitions following their 96th-minute collapse at Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker two weeks ago.
The visitors sought to take control of the encounter from the off on Saturday, with Serge Gnabry forcing Oliver Baumann into a good save with only four minutes on the clock.
Gnabry again went close for Bayern moments later after combining nicely with Jamal Musiala down the right, but when the tricky teenager returned him the ball, the winger couldn't quite find his feet from six yards out.
Bayern broke the deadlock after 17 minutes through Musiala himself, reacting quickest to Leon Goretzka's header back across goal from a corner to give them a deserved lead.
Baumann had to be alert in the minutes that followed to keep Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Gnabry once more at bay, while Georginio Rutter did well to beat Dayot Upamecano and bring a save out of Sven Ulreich.
Hoffenheim were made to rue that one sight of goal as Bayern doubled their lead on 38 minutes, with Chuopo-Moting playing a one-two with Gnabry before racing to the front post and finishing the German's cross.
Rutter had another chance to score for Hoffenheim just before half-time on the counter attack, but was denied again by a sprawling save from Ulreich.
Marcel Sabitzer was denied a chance to make it three after the break with Baumann once more coming to the hosts' rescue, while Sadio Mane had his blushes spared by a late offside flag having missed an open goal from four yards out.
Bayern were able to coast to victory following a quiet second half, reducing Union Berlin's lead at the top of the Bundesliga to one point ahead of their trip to Bochum tomorrow.