Champions League holders Bayern Munich hosted Viktoria Plzen in Group D and lived up to the pre-match expectations with a 5-0 win.
In the first half Bayern scored twice despite having 13 shots on target with Franck Ribery scoring a penalty and David Alaba adding another.
The domination continued after the break with Ribery adding a second before Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Gotze late on completed the scoring.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Hello everyone. It's the second night of round three of the Champions League and tonight I have the current holders in action against Czech side Viktoria Plzen.
It has been so far, so good for the Bundesliga leaders with six points from their first two games, including their impressive win against Manchester City. Arguably they have not hit the heights of last year as yet, but they should still have far too much tonight.
Interestingly, these two sides have actually met in Europe - way back in the 1971-72 season. Bayern won the Cup Winners' Cup first round clash 7-1. I fancy the Czech side would take that result over the two games in the group stage this year!
Plzen, though, have only lost one of their last eight in Europe - which was 3-2 away to CSKA at the start of the month. Bayern have 13 wins from 15 here at the Allianz Arena. Whichever way you look at it, Plzen will need one of their best ever performances as well as some luck to get a result. Of course, the game is not played on paper...
So who's playing tonight? Well, Bayern are pretty much at full-strength - team news just coming...
BAYERN XI: Neuer; Rafinha, Van Buyten, Contento, Alaba; Lahm; Schweinsteiger, Ribery, Kroos, Robben; Mandzukic
PLZEN XI: Kozacik; Reznik, Cisovsky, Hubnik, Limbersky; Horvath, Prochazka; Rajtoral, Horava, Petraela; Kolar
It's interesting that Pep Guardiola has selected just one recognised centre-back in his lineup tonight. Presumably it will be Diego Contento who lines up alongside Daniel van Buyten. Elsewhere, Philipp Lahm continues as the midfield anchor and both Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery start.
However, the Spaniard definitely seems to be taking the threat of Plzen seriously. Mario Mandzukic is named up front, although the inclusion of him and Toni Kroos sees Thomas Muller miss out.
For Plzen there is no Marek Bakos to lead the line and instead Daniel Kolar will be the most advanced player. The one to watch, for me, will be Frantisek Rajtoral who loves to get forward down the right.
Plzen are doing well in the league so far. They are currently second behind leaders Sparta Prague and have a six-point deficit, but they did draw 1-1 with them at the weekend. They have 25 points from 11 games and will come into this one full of confidence.
Very few will expecting Plzen to get anything from tonight, but if you fancy a gamble - and you'd have to be a gambler to even consider it - then Plzen can be backed at between 30-40/1. Quite ludicrous that there can be a team with such long odds in a European competition. Bayern? Well you'll get a pound back from £10 placed.
My prediction is hard - but only because I'm not sure how motivated Bayern will be and thus how many they will score. Plzen have conceded six in two so far, but I fancy that average to go up slightly tonight - let's go for a (conservative) 4-0.
So just over 10 minutes to go until kickoff. It's always a treat to watch Bayern, but I at least hope Plzen can keep it competitive for a while. An early goal for them would be fantastic, but I just can't see it.
Just a reminder that we have all seven games live for you here on SM - City have already beaten CSKA 2-1 in this group. Check our home page for all the available commentaries.
Here is the classic Champions League theme, as the No To Racism banner is passed among the players. Unfortunately it did not have an effect for the CSKA fans, who allegedly racially taunted Yaya Toure tonight.
KICKOFF: The hosts, playing in blue, get us underway tonight.
CLOSE! Alaba takes a free kick and gets it to skid low and bounce just in front of Kozacik, who does not deal with it well and lets it spill, but it's hooked from under the bar by a white shirt with several Bayern players closing in.
CHANCE! Mandzukic should probably score. Kozacik again is not impressive dealing with a shot and he parries it into the air for Mandzukic, who heads over. It was a glorious chance to at the very least hit the target.
CHANCE! Now Robben probably should score! Rafinha swings in a fine deep cross, which is nodded down by Mandzukic to Robben, who slides on to it but only manages to turn it wide with his right foot.
Plzen will be relieved that they are still even in this game, but the possession is absolutely all for Bayern. Currently every white shirt is in the Plzen half and it just keeps coming back. Bayern remain patient and will surely unlock another chance soon.
Wonderful play by Ribery. He controls a deep Robben cross before twisting his man inside and out but his cross is too close to Kozacik and the keeper gathers.
The visitors' defence has been a bit better in the last five minutes. They aren't pressing too high and are keeping their shape, which forces Rafinha to shoot from range but his effort is blocked and goes out for a throw. The right-back then gives away a foul and Plzen can breathe.
CHANCE! Another chance and another save for Kozacik. Alaba has time on the left side of the box and probably should do better, but his shot is just above the keeper's head and he parries it away.
It's incredibly difficult to see Plzen scoring tonight and they're certainly set up for a 0-0. You can't really argue about that - if you open up against Bayern you're always likely to be undone whoever you are. Another corner here for Bayern as Ribery is closed down at the near post.
Rare foray forward as Petraela looks to get in down the left, but Rafinha is in really well to tackle and normal service is resumed quickly. Lahm is next to try his luck from range but it's a dreadful attempt.
PENALTY TO BAYERN!
BOOKING: Hubnik is fouled. Robben cuts inside in the box and it's clumsy from Hubnik who brings him down.
GOAL! Bayern 1-0 Plzen (Franck Ribery)
Kozacik goes the right way, but he's beaten by Ribery and Bayern lead. It could be decisive that.
SAVE: Mandzukic gets into the box and cuts inside his man, but his low effort is saved by the legs of Kozacik.
SAVE! What a stop from Kozacik! He's been a little weak with his handling, but as Van Buyten powers a header towards goal he sticks out a right arm and gets it away. Really good stop and he's by far Plzen's most active player.
Still Bayern press, but amazingly Kozacik hasn't made a save for a few minutes. It really is a mismatch so far, but while it's 1-0 Bayern will always need another goal.
SAVE: The whole game is being played in the Plzen defensive third and it's another stop from Kozacik, as Schweinsteiger tries to side-foot it into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
GOAL! Bayern 2-0 Plzen (David Alaba)
That will be that now, then. It's a really good goal from Alaba, who gets the ball on the corner of the box before cutting inside and finding the opposite corner with his weaker foot. He is loving life under Guardiola and now has three for the season.
SAVE! Best save of the lot from Kozacik. It's Robben, surprisingly, with a header from an Kroos cross but Kozacik is across like Superman to push it away with his left arm. What a stop.
Still Bayern dominate. They win yet another corner with a Kroos cross being deflected, but nothing comes from that one. I've not seen such a one-sided game for quite some time.
HALF-TIME: Bayern 2-0 Viktoria Plzen
Well, Bayern's training game is half way through. It's not competitive in the least and but for Kozacik it could be a lot more. Plzen have set up not to concede and now at 2-0 down they have no chance.
I'm not sure what the highest possession statistic I've seen in a game, but this will be close. It's currently 78% - which if anything seems low! They have had zero shots and zero corners, while Bayern have had 22 shots - 13 on target - as well as nine corners.
Really the only Plzen player that we have seen anything of has been Kozacik. He started off shaky with a couple of spills, but has made two or three excellent stops to keep the score down for now.
Not long to go until we get back underway. We might see some changes at the break for the visitors - they simply need to see more of the ball. Of course, that's easier said than done against this superb Bayern side.
KICKOFF: The visitors get us back underway for the second half.
BOOKING: Manuel Neuer gets a touch! I think that's the first time I've noticed he's wearing a red shirt. Limbersky then becomes the second player booked for blocking off Ribery as he went past him.
Plzen are just chasing shadows, and they have for most of the game so far. Bayern have been very patient with their attacking play so far and haven't had a really good chance as yet.
The crowd are certainly enjoying this exhibition - at least the home fans, who are in excellent voice. Rafinha drives down the right but crosses straight to Kozacik.
CLOSE! Ribery is crowded out in the box, and looks up to see Schweinsteiger on the edge of the box. The vice-captain tries to curl it in but only succeeds in putting it wide.
DISALLOWED GOAL: What a lovely move. One-touch passing in midfield as Ribery is found by Robben down the left, but his pass to Mandzukic found the Croatian just offside as he tapped in.
GOAL! Bayern 3-0 Plzen (Ribery)
More fine passing football from Bayern and that is a magnificent finish from Ribery! He jinks left around two markers before chipping Kozacik from six yards! Marvellous. Change for the visitors as Horvath is replaced by Duris. Lahm too comes off for Mario Gotze.
GOAL! Bayern 4-0 Plzen (Schweinsteiger)
Immediate assist for Gotze. He isn't closed down on the right of the box and passes to Schweinsteiger. He turns and shoots in one movement and fires it beyond Kozacik with his weaker foot. There could still be a lot more.
CORNER FOR PLZEN! Amazingly, they have a chance...
BAYERN SUB: Thomas Muller is on now. Good news for Plzen though as it's the brilliant Ribery who makes way.
BAYERN SUB: Claudio Pizarro, who so often scores when he plays, comes on for Mandzukic. There will be no rest for Plzen even with these subs.
SAVE: Pizarro probably should have a goal there. He meets a cross and if he puts it either side of Kozacik it's a goal, but instead he heads it straight at the keeper.
PLZEN SUB: Kroos strikes narrowly wide from the edge of the box as the visitors make another change. It's Kovarik on for Limbersky.
Bayern are still keen for more goals without being cavalier in attack. Robben in particular wants one tonight but is not having too much joy with his direct running in this half,
CHANCE: There was Robben's chance! Gotze again with good work on the right but Robben does not get the right contact on the ball when he should have at least hit the target.
Plzen to their credit are still looking to make life touch for Bayern. Unfortunately the gulf in class is almost embarrassing. It really could have been double figures tonight as Muller toe-pokes just wide.
Rare sight of the Bayern halg there, but it's only because they are giving the defence a touch of the ball to keep warm. My 4-0 prediction is looking good at the moment - unfortunately I didn't put anything on it...
CHANCE! It should be 5-0. Well it should be more, but that's a great chance for Schweinsteiger. He met Rafinha's cross but only put it into the arms of Kozacik. At the other end Alaba clears from under his own bar and the visitors have a corner.
GOAL! Bayern 5-0 Plzen (Mario Gotze)
I'm glad I didn't now... That's a fine finish from Gotze, who gets behind his full-back to control and then lash into the top corner from close range. It's 5-0 and it really doesn't flatter them.
FULL-TIME: Bayern 5-0 Viktoria Plzen
As expected Bayern take a comfortable win over Plzen. If anything it could have been more, but either way Bayern now have nine points and a foot in the next round. Thanks for joining me for this one and please stick around for reaction and results for all tonight's games.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
