Bayern Munich honor Franz Beckenbauer with 3-0 win over Hoffenheim in Bundesliga restart
FC Bayern münchen paid tribute to the late Franz Beckenbauer with a 3-0 win over Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga restart on Friday. Jamal Musiala scored a brace and Harry Kane added another goal in the convincing victory.
FT | FC Bayern 3-0 TSG Hoffenheim #FCBayern #FCBTSGE pic.twitter.com/JOqWmCmWmX
— Match Spoots (@matchspoots) January 12, 2024
Musiala opened the scoring in the 18th minute, finishing coolly from a tight angle after being set up by Leroy Sane. He then doubled his tally with 20 minutes remaining, again linking up with Sane before slotting home.
Hoffenheim’s hopes of a comeback were dashed when Grischa Prömel was sent off for a second yellow card in the 74th minute. And Kane made sure of the win for Bayern in stoppage time, tapping in from close range.
The win was Bayern’s 65th in a row at home, a new Bundesliga record. It also moved them to within one point of league leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who return from a four-week winter break on Saturday.
Coach Thomas Tuchel said before the game that Beckenbauer would have wanted the team to play well in “a celebration of football” after an initial “state of shock” at the club following his death.
Bayern paid tribute to Beckenbauer, who was known as Der Kaiser (The Emperor) and Lichtgestalt (Shining Light), before the game with a minute’s silence. The team also warmed up in Beckenbauer’s number 5 shirt and wore training jackets from his era.
Beckenbauer’s song “Gute Freunde” (Good Friends) was played when the teams walked out and was repeated after the Bayern goals.
The win was a fitting tribute to Beckenbauer, who was one of the greatest players and managers of all time. He won the World Cup as a player and coach with Germany, and also led Bayern Munich to five European Cups.
Beckenbauer was a true legend of the game, and he will be sorely missed. But his memory will live on, not only in the hearts of Bayern Munich fans, but also in the hearts of football fans around the world.
