Douglas Costa debut lights up 5-0 Bayern Munich victory

Bayern Munich waltzed to yet another crushing win on the opening day of the Bundesliga, producing a memorable victory as they crushed Hamburg 5-0 at the Allianz Arena.

And new signing Douglas Costa was the hero, earning himself a 10 out of 10 match rating from Eurosport after a mesmerising display.

Thomas Mueller was almost as good, finding the net twice, while high-profile summer signing Arturo Vidal looked every inch the key player that his £28 million fee demands.

The start of the 53rd Bundesliga season couldn’t have been much easier for the German champions as Hamburg set out from the start to keep the score respectable, given their last visit to Bayern saw them concede eight times without reply.

Hamburg last beat Bayern in 2009 and it is easy to see why. In their last seven games including tonight they’ve lost by an aggregate scoreline of 37-3, while slowly creeping towards the bottom end of the league. They defended well for 60 minutes but that is not enough against Pep Guardiola’s Bayern.

Today also marks the exact day 50 years ago Bayern Munich played their first ever Bundesliga game, losing to local rivals 1860 Munchen 1-0. They were bottom of the league that night, but tonight, they’ll be sitting pretty at the top of the table, where it’s hard to see them not finish come the end of the season, given the embarrassment of riches they have available to them.

4’ – CHANCE! – First blood Hamburg as Holtby dispossesses Lahm and scuttles down the left wing. His ball into Schipplock is good and he gets it back from the striker on the edge of the area but his shot goes straight at Neuer.

8’ – CHANCE! – Alaba in the left back position plays a lovely lofted ball into the penalty area for Robben who has run inside from the right. He gets his head to it but glances just wide.

21’ – CHANCE! – Robben plays it to Lahm on the right who crosses quickly to Lewandowski in the middle. The ball is slightly behind him but he manages to hook his shot towards the top corner only for it to fly just over.

27’ – GOAL! – Easy goal as Alonso floats a free kick into the far post from the left wing. Benatia is the most aggressive as he attacks it, the ball flies off his shoulder and ends up in the bottom corner.

30’ – CHANCE! – Alaba plays the ball down the line for Costa who crosses low from the left. He finds Muller in the middle but his left footed first time strike just flies past the post.

53’ – GOAL! – Alonso plays a long ball into the box which the defender heads horribly back into his own danger area. The ball drops to Lewandowski just eight yards out and he dispatches with ease.

69’ – GOAL! – Excellent from Costa who keeps the ball in on the touchline. He drives to the byline before whipping a ball with the outside of his left boot to the near post where Muller is on hand to head home.

73’ – GOAL! - Muller again as Lewandowski outmuscles Djourou far too easily to bring down a long ball. He drives inside and slips the ball to Muller running into the box. He rounds the goalkeeper and tucks it home with his left foot.

87’ – GOAL! - Rafinha looks to have fouled the left back in his own area but the ref waves play on. He dinks the ball back to Costa on the corner of the penalty area. He takes one touch out of his feet and whips the ball into the far bottom corner.

Robben has scored eight and assisted four in eight games against Hamburg but wasn’t involved in a single goal tonight.

Last time Bayern met Hamburg, the German champions won 8-0

Last season, Bayern managed an average of 73% possession in three games against Hamburg. Tonight they managed 77%.

Bayern had 23 shots on goal compared to Hamburg’s five.

Hamburg committed 55 fouls in three games against Bayern last season. Tonight they conceded 12.

Bayern Munich have now won seven and drawn one of their eight Bundesliga opening matches.

Hamburg’s aggregate score in their last seven away matches against Bayern Munich is 37-3 in favour of Bayern.

Can anyone match this Bayern team and stop them winning another Bundesliga trophy? In short, no. They walked to the league title last season and they only look to have improved with more pace and penetration from Douglas Costa on the wing and even more energy and drive from Arturo Vidal in the middle. Hamburg are by no means the strongest of teams in Germany but the ease with which Bayern won suggests they will yet again be the team you need to finish above if you want to win the league title.

Douglas Costa – A really impressive debut from the Brazilian. His pace was a constant threat and his direct running was a real problem for Hamburg throughout the game. It was his driving run that won the free kick for the opening goal, his assist for Muller’s first was out of this world and his deadly whipped finish crowned a Bundesliga debut which will endear him to the hearts of every Bayern fan.

Bayern – Neuer 6, Lahm 7, Boateng 6, Benatia 6, Alaba 7, Alonso 8, Vidal 9, Costa 10, Robben 7, Muller 9, Lewandowski 8. Subs – Rafinha 7, Gotze 7, Thiago 6.

Hamburg – Adler 7, Diekmeier 7, Djourou 5, Spahic 4, Ostrzolek 4, Ekdal 6, Jung 6, Holtby 6, Gregoritsch 6, Schipplock 7, Ilicevic 6. Subs – Olic 5, Lassogga 5.