Bayern Munich 3 - 1 Bayer Leverkusen: Bayern Munich up and running on day one of the new Bundesliga season

Posted Saturday, August 19, 2017 by PA

Debut goals from Niklas Sule and Corentin Tolisso helped Bayern Munich get the defence of their Bundesliga title off to a winning 3-1 start in monsoon conditions against Bayer Leverkusen.

Sule headed home the opening goal after only nine minutes at the Allianz Arena, meeting a free-kick from his fellow signing from Hoffenheim, Sebastian Rudy.

And Tolisso, the big-money arrival from Lyon, also netted with a header on his league debut to double the lead after only 18 minutes.

There was another first early in the second half as the video assistant referee was called into action for the first time in the Bundesliga, awarding a penalty to Bayern for a foul on Robert Lewandowski which the Pole converted.

Swirling wind and driving rain meant conditions were anything but ideal for much of the game, but Leverkusen could have no complaints.

Despite a fine consolation goal from Admir Mehmedi in the 65th minute and a succession of second-half chances, they never seriously looked like mounting a comeback.

Bayern were 6-0 winners over Werder Bremen in their opening game of the last Bundesliga season and they came flying out of the blocks again, Tolisso bringing an early parry out of Bernd Leno with a fierce low drive.

Rudy, with big boots to fill in the form of the retired Xabi Alonso, made his presence felt with a perfectly-weighted free-kick from the left which Sule powered back across goal and into the far corner to open the scoring.

Leverkusen had a chance to level immediately as Mehmedi escaped the attentions of Mats Hummels, but saw his shot saved by the feet of Sven Ulreich, starting in goal with Manuel Neuer still not ready to return from the broken foot he suffered in April.

The hosts, though, were cutting their opponents open almost at will with their quick, incisive passing, although their second goal came from another set piece.

Joshua Kimmich swung in a corner from the right which goalkeeper Leno should have dealt with without fuss.

Instead he palmed it out only to Arturo Vidal, who controlled the ball on his chest and lobbed it towards the far corner where Tolisso was on hand to nod it in.

Ulreich then kept out Kevin Volland, but they were struggling to contain Bayern.

The impressive Tolisso was denied a second goal following a flowing team move down the right, with Leno deflecting his shot from an acute angle on to the far post with the inside of his leg.

The rebound did not fall kindly to the waiting Lewandowski.

Thomas Muller was then unable to beat Leno after a dancing run from Franck Ribery gave him a chance.

The wind picked up and the rain got heavier as the first half wore on and the start of the second period was delayed for a few minutes by the awful conditions.

Leverkusen, under new boss Heiko Herrlich, needed a response after the break, but their hopes were dashed in the 53rd minute as the VAR ruled against them when Charles Aranguiz pulled back Lewandowski, the referee having missed the foul.

The striker made no mistake from the spot, scoring low to Leno's left.

Leverkusen continued to threaten and Bayern lived dangerously on a number of occasions before the visitors got one back.

The ball was worked across to Mehmedi on the right of area and he blasted a shot high into the roof of the net.

Dominik Kohr then sent a free header wide when he should have reduced Leverkusen's deficit to one.

But their search for a way back into the game left them exposed at the back and Lewandowski should have scored a fourth for Bayern when played through by Arjen Robben, but dragged his shot wide.