Bayern Munich opened their Bundesliga campaign with a 5-0 demolition of Bruno Labbadia's Hamburger SV at the Allianz Arena.
Die Rothosen had frustrated Pep Guardiola's side in the opening 25 minutes before Medhi Benatia broke the deadlock.
In the second half the Bavarians ran riot picking up a further four goals; Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Müller and Douglas Costa all getting onto the score sheet.
Costa especially was impressive, on his Bundesliga debut, and his eventual goal was thoroughly deserved after a great performance. HSV start the season off as they left the last, and another season of struggle looks on the cards.
A start of a new season
Guardiola gave two of his summer signings the opportunity to make their full Bundesliga debut, with Costa and Arturo Vidal both in die Roten's starting eleven; but Sven Ulreich and Joshua Kimmich would have to make do with a spot on the bench. Philipp Lahm and David Alaba both started in their more orthodox fullback positions, after both played parts of last campaign in various midfield roles.
The aims for the new season for Guardiola and Bayern Munich are undoubtedly to retain their Bundesliga crown and improved showings in the DFB Pokal, but most importantly the Champions League. However, the Bundesliga title could be classed as more a prerequisite than aim.
For Hamburger SV their aims could be nothing more than the complete opposite than their opponents this evening. After two consecutive close escapes from relegation, thanks to relegation play off victories over Greuther Fürth and most recently Karlsruher SC, die Rothosen will be looking for more stability this campaign.
After a summer of many ins and outs at the Volksparkstadion, Bruno Labbadia named a much changed side to the one that often featured last season. Sven Schipplock, Albin Ekdal, Michael Gregoritsch as well as Emir Spahic all started after summer moves to the Hanseatic city. Gideon Jung, who spent last season with HSV's second team after joining from Rot Weiß Oberhausen, also made his debut.
René Adler who served die Rothosen so well at the back end of last season continued in goal, as Jaroslav Drobny remained sidelined. Another one of Hamburg's summer signing, Andreas Hirzel filled in for the Czech 'keeper on the bench.
Early Hamburg resiliance
As it would be expected, Bayern Munich dominated the possession in the opening exchanges of the game, however the visitors crowded the pitch and were making it very hard for die Roten to create any chances. After a clever switch of play by David Alaba over the HSV defence Arjen Robben nearly broke the deadlock; however his header drifted just wide of the far post.
There was an uncharacteristic amount of mistakes in die Roten's passing in the opening affrays, both Benatia and Jerome Boateng losing the ball under little pressure; which led to the Germany defender and Xabi Alonso both picking up early bookings.
It was clearly Labbadia's game plan was to restrict Guardiola's side with 11 men behind the ball and based on the opening 25 minutes of the game, it was going to work. It wasn't pretty, but it definitely was effective.
Bayern break the deadlock
However with a side with as much quality as Bayern, goals can be scored out of nowhere and this proved to be the case with the first goal of the game, from a rather unlikely source.
After a great surging run from Costa, who was upended by Dennis Diekmeier, the ball was whipped in by Alonso right onto the head of Benatia, who made no mistake and left Adler motionless. The Moroccan already matching his goal tally from last year in the seasons opening game. The defending from die Rothosen was questionable, after what had been a great opening 25 minutes. Labbadia's game plan was now out of the window.
Die Rothosen had to now come out and play, and this made it easier for Bayern Munich to tailor chances. Another great run from Costa, and great interplay from Alaba led to the ball being squared for Thomas Müller; but the forward was unable to keep his left footed effort on target.
Quite ironically, after being defeated 8-0 in the same fixture last season, a 1-0 score line at the break could be taken as a positive for HSV.
Lead doubled
It didn't take long in the second half for Bayern to renew their dominance, and with their dominance came a second goal. Alaba had already fired a warning shot at Adler, before Robert Lewandowski opened his tally for the campaign.
Alonso lofted the ball towards Müller, however Matthias Ostzrolek won the header; but this wasn't the end of the attack as the clearing header was poor and fell right at the feet of Lewandowski who first time side footed the ball past Adler and doubled die Roten's lead, effectively ending the game as a contest.
The hosts continued to go close, but on these occasions Adler did well and kept the scoreline well. Firstly saving well from Lewandowski and secondly from Rafinha, the subsequent rebound from the Brazilians effort fell to another Brazilian in Costa, but the former Shakhtar man volleyed over.
Bayern run riot
Die Roten kept pressing and attacking for further goals as the match went on, and they'd get another around the 70th minute and it was some goal! Benatia, who was already on a yellow card, timed his tackle of Sven Schipplock to perfection; the ball found itself to Mario Götze who switched to Costa - who had been lively all game, just about kept the ball in before crossing the ball to the near post with the outside of his left boot and straight on to the head of Müller who finally got his goal.
If you think it couldn't get any better than this, only minutes later Lewandowski attempted an equally impressive assist of his own. The Pole collecting the ball in deep before reversing to an on-rushing Müller who rounded Adler and got his second and die Roten's fourth.
After conceding the third die Rothosen's defence had fallen apart and it was now anyones guess as to how many goals Bayern would amass before the end of the game.
Costa had stood out all game, creating a number of chances and had terrorized the HSV defence and with only minutes left he got the goal he deserved. Another error by Ostzrolek led to Costa picking up the ball on the edge of the box, he turned and riffled a curling effort into the bottom right corner of the net. A five star goal, after a five star performance from Costa.