Bayern were in imperious form as they continued their 100 per cent Bundesliga record by trouncing Stuttgart 6-1 at the Allianz Arena.
The visitors began the game well and took the lead through Martin Harnik but Die Roten were indomitable in their response as goals from Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos and Luiz Gustavo ensured they entered the break with a two-goal advantage.
Another three strikes in the space of six second-half minutes completed the rout, with Muller in fine form. The 22-year-old scored his second of the night between goals for both Mario Mandzukic and Bastian Schweinsteiger and the visitors’ misery was compounded when Vedad Ibisevic was dismissed in the 74th minute.
With just four minutes on the clock Harnik span his defender and dribbled across the box from the right before sending an effort for the far corner. It looked certain to find the net but the slightest of touches from Manuel Neuer diverted the ball onto the bar and Shinji Okazaki was unable to turn in the rebound.
After that early wobble Bayern stamped their authority on the game with a high level of ball retention. The visitors were penned back in their own half but a Luiz Gustavo shot that scraped the outside of the post was the best thing they could create.
They were punished for their lack of ingenuity as Stuttgart took the lead in the 25th minute. Arthur Boka’s free kick from deep found Harnik at the back post and the Austrian lifted a cushioned volley over Neuer and into the back of the net.
Bayern continued to dominate the game though and they finally found their clinical boots in attack as they struck twice in the space of two minutes. Firstly, Muller beat the static Stuttgart defenders to the rebound of his initial shot to tap in and then Kroos drilled in a missile of a shot from 20 yards after the visitors were caught in possession in their own final third.
Two minutes before the break Bruno Labbadia’s side were left shell-shocked when Luiz Gustavo drilled in a fantastic 35-yard effort that swerved away from Sven Ulreich and crashed in off the post.
The break did little to stem the flow for Stuttgart however, and a trio of goals followed for the hosts within a blistering six minutes of the second half.
Mandzukic netted his second of the season with a simple tap-in after Muller’s shot was saved and moments later the hosts countered in style and, in a reversal of roles, Muller headed in after Ulreich had partially blocked the Croatian’s shot.
The 22-year-old was involved once again as he supplied a pinpoint cross in the 51st minute for Schweinsteiger to nod past the dumbfounded keeper.
With the game seemingly won Bayern took their foot off the gas but Stuttgart failed to make it any easier for themselves as Vedad Ibisevic was shown a red card for barging into Jerome Boateng after a contentious tackle.
The damage was already done though and Jupp Heynckes’ side cruised to the end of the game, ensuring they end the second round of Bundesliga fixtures on top of the pile.