The Malta Independent 20 April 2024, Saturday
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Robert Lewandowski hits Supercup hat-trick as Bayern Munich beat Eintracht Frankfurt

Sunday, 12 August 2018, 23:24 Last update: about 7 years ago

Bayern Munich won the first trophy of 2018/19 as Robert Lewandowski hit a hat-trick to fire the defending Bundesliga champions to a 5-0 Supercup victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.

The opening exchanges were evenly balanced, with both teams retaining their shape well and playing out from the back, although neither team looked like scoring initially.

The deadlock was eventually broken midway through the half when Joshua Kimmich was allowed time and space on the right to place a cross to the back post, where Lewandowski headed home.

The Polish striker added a second shortly afterwards, nodding in a corner from the right. Mijat Gacinovic was the liveliest outlet for the hosts, but his best effort - a snatched shot from the edge of the box - fizzed just wide.

After the interval, the visitors carried on where they had left off in the first 45 minutes, swarming over their hosts and threatening to score with almost every attack. That pressure soon took its toll as Lewandowski completed his hat-trick, turning David Abraham on the edge of the box before slotting past Frederik Rönnow.

The outcome never looked in any doubt at that point, but Niko Kovac's men kept pushing forward and added a fourth thanks to Kingsley Coman, who turned provider for Thiago to slot in a late fifth and seal Bayern's third consecutive Supercup triumph.

Bayern have won 54 of the 96 meetings between these sides.

Kovac's side had 65 per cent possession, completed 90 per cent of their passes and won 51 per cent of all challenges in this match. Ante Rebic scored a brace the last time the teams faced off, helping Frankfurt to victory in the DFB Cup final in May.

The Eagles have now lost both of their Supercup outings, suffering a 2-0 reverse to Werder Bremen in the 1988 edition.

Lewandowski has now scored five goals in seven Supercup appearances.

Frankfurt have not managed to beat Bayern at their home Commerzbank-Arena since March 2010.


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