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Bayern Munich has started the New Year on a good note, as Leon Goretzka's brace played a prime role in finishing the game against Hoffenheim, by a dominating 3-1 scoreline.
The win helped Bayern cut down Borussia Dortmund's dominance at the top of the table to just three points, with the league leaders in action against RB Leipzig on Saturday.
The Bavarians produced a dominating display at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena, as the visitors ended the first half with a 2-0 lead.
Both goals were scored by Goretzka in the final ten minutes before half-time after his side wasted a lot of good chances on open play.
In the second half, Bayern lost their compactness from the first half, and as a result, conceded a goal from Nico Schulz.
Hoffenheim then pressed hard for an equaliser and even came close on two occasions, which were ultimately foiled by Manuel Neuer.
With Robert Lewandowski netting a third with three minutes remaining for stoppage time, Bayern secured all three points for the defending Bundesliga champions.
Let us now discuss some of the key points for discussion from the match.
#5 Bavarian dominance in the first half
Having already stated how Bayern finished the first 45 minutes with a two-goal lead, it is to be understood that the side dominated the hosts at that phase - which is true to the dot.
It was what would have been a classic case of 4-0 or 5-0, had Munich not squandered a lion's share of their golden chances.
Though the first chance of the game was Hoffenheim's in the 4th minute, Bayern got their balance back by the 15th minute, and slowly started applying pressure on the hosts' defense.
It worked, as chances came in from all sides left right and center, and it was due to some sheer fortune of Hoffenheim that the score remained 0-0. Muller, Lewandowski, and Hummels missed chances and kept the game in the balance.
All the hard work paid off in the 34th minute when Kingsley Coman's high cross directed at Lewandowski was put away by Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, who in turn couldn't stop the rebound shot from an unmarked Goretzka.
The side went on to double the lead soon, as Goretzka found himself at the receiving end of another cross - this time from David Alaba.
#4 The misfiring of Nagelsmann's tactical changes
Julian Nagelsmann has been really impressive as Hoffenheim's manager in the past couple of seasons.
Sadly, Hoffenheim lost some key players like Serge Gnabry (who Bayern took back after the loan period expired) at the beginning of this season, and Hoffenheim and Nagelsmann had been under pressure to replicate their results from the last time.
Today, Nagelsmann chose to go in with a 3-5-2 formation, which misfired as Bayern chose to really expose their backline with as many as five or six Bayern players often laying siege to the Hoffenheim box.
Underfire players like Kevin Vogt and Kerim Demirbay made it worse, and the hosts had to start the second half on a two-goal deficit.
It was not until some key changes were made, such as both Vogt and Demirbay getting back in the dugout in place of Grillitsch and Geiger, that Nagelsmann's men started moving forward.
Their late move resulted in a goal two minutes later, and also a few chances to equalise later on.
Had the tactical changes were implemented from the beginning, Bayern could well have been caught short, judging from their performance in the latter phase.
#3 Bayern losing their shine in the second half
The hosts started attacking right from the word "go" as the referee blew his whistle to signal the start of the second half, and Bayern Munich had no other resolve but to suddenly shift defensively, save a few counter-attacks that were ineffective.
This, in turn, shifted Bayern's gears backward, and they were often found wanting in composition and stability while guarding their own lines.
Maybe it was a kind of complacency that stemmed from a dominating first-half performance and a resulting 2-0 lead, but in retrospect, that could actually have gone on to cost the game for Bayern.
Between the 47th and 53rd minute, Neuer had to come between Hoffenheim players and scoring chances thrice.
The surmounting pressure finally bent the visitors a bit, as Bayern brought nine of its players up forward for an unsuccessful corner, and the resulting breakthrough counter-attack ending with Nico Schulz finding the back of the net with ease from 20 yards out.
Hoffenheim continued to try for goals, and an equaliser almost came their way on multiple occasions, Neuer being the one giant barrier that the hosts found it impossible to cross on at least two such cases.
Lewandowski's late goal then helped in sealing the game in Bayern's favour.
#2 Leon Goretzka proved to be the difference
Fun fact: Before the game earlier, Goretzka has never scored twice in a competitive fixture for Bayern Munich. The midfielder, who came in from Schalke, had a wonderful time in the middle today, his two first-half goals adding to the sweetness.
Both goals came as a result of some good teamwork, complimented by Goretzka's movement in the field.
In the first case, Coman's cross directed at Lewandowski rebounded off Baumann to an unmarked Goretzka, who was lurking very well in the shadows - going on to score.
The second time, it was Alaba who found Goretzka alone and in the zone for a hit, as his pin-pointed cross fell well within range, and with Goretzka at the right place and the right time, it was nothing but a foregone conclusion.
In addition to the goals, Goretzka's dynamic runs in the midfield created a lot of problems for Nagelsmann's team, as he often used two or more men to track the man down, leaving another Bayern player open and free.
Whenever the security was withdrawn, Goretzka found himself free, which is when he scored the goals. The midfielder also completed 89% of his passes.
#1 The title challenge is up and running
The 2018-'19 season of the Bundesliga is going to be quite different from any of the previous seasons from recent years.
There is an exciting title challenge on the cards this time around, in contrast to Bayern Munich's solo marauding run that we have become accustomed to when the German league is usually talked about.
The win today sees Munich at 39 points from 18 games and at the second position in the league table, with Borussia Dortmund being the current leaders with 42 points.
The side can hence start thinking about a possibility where they may eventually overcome their arch-rivals, to gain a grasp on the title which has been theirs for the past six years in a row.
The Bavarians started their season in a slump, moving through a phase wherein it was difficult to find wins as Niko Kovac looked hard-pressed to find what was wrong in his "perfect" side that fielded big names.
At one point of time, the side was placed as low as sixth in the standings, from where they have risen back to second place courtesy of a string of satisfactory performances.
The current standings indicate a healthy competition for the title on the way, for the rest of the season in the Bundesliga 2018-'19.
