Bundesliga: Lewandowski brace beats Hoffenheim
January 31, 2016
Bayern 2-0 Hoffenheim
(Lewandowski 32', 64')
It might have been a week of concern for Bayern's defensive depth, but on Sunday the defending Bundesliga champions showed why their attacking talent will be enough to carry them towards a fourth consecutive league title.
With news before the game that Javi Martinez will be out for a few weeks with a re-occuring knee injury, the attention turned how Pep Guardiola would set up his defensive unit. Holger Badstuber, currently Bayern's only fully fit central defender, was flanked by David Alaba and Joshua Kimmich. In truth though, it was at the other end of the pitch that the game's focus lay.
The return of Arjen Robben was a notable boost to Bayern's width. The Dutchman weaved in and out of Hoffenheim's blue shirts, constantly troubling but without reward. With Oliver Baumann continuing his good form from last week, Bayern were left equally empty-handed during the opening passage. Eventually and unsurprisingly though, Bayern's width would be the undoing of Hoffenheim.
Dominating possession and pinning Hoffenheim into their own half, all it took was a shuffle of Douglas Costa's feet and the ball was with Robert Lewandowski in the box. It was perhaps the simpliest goal the Pole will score all season, but it was worth just as much as the 17 he scored before.
Bayern's defensive unit hadn't been posed a question, but as is often the case in a game against Bayern in Munich that is hanging in the balance, there is a turning point. A rare counterattack from the visitors left on-loan Leicester City striker Andrej Kramaric with a glaring chance to equalize. He didn't, and less than ten minutes later, Lewandowski sealed the win after clipping past Baumann from Philipp Lahm's lovely pass.
Despite the the transfer window shutting in less than 24 hours, Matthias Sammer said before the game Bayern would not be making any moves to aid their depleted defense. Based on the 90 minutes against Hoffenheim on Sunday, there is no need to. The Bundesliga title will be defended without the addition of a new defender. Winning the Champions League though, remains a little more ambigious.