Publications
Partners
Munich - A double by Franck Ribery has inspired Champions League holders Bayern Munich to a predictably easy 5-0 win over pointless Czech opponents Viktoria Pilsen in their Champions League group match on Wednesday.
Ribery, who had been wisely rested for last weekend's Bundesliga match because of a sore ankle, scored either side of half-time while impressive Austrian fullback David Alaba and Bastian Schweinsteiger also got on the scoresheet.
Bayern started brightly pressing forward and Ribery went close with an effort that was well saved by Pilsen goalkeeper Matus Kozacik.
The 29-year-old Kozacik was Pilsen's busiest player, called into action again shortly afterwards as 21-year-old Alaba let fly from the edge of the area.
The Czech 'keeper was fortunate as he failed to catch the ball cleanly but there was no Bayern player in close to take advantage.
However, the pressure finally told in the 24th minute as Arjen Robben went down under a crude challenge by Czech international central defender Roman Hubnik and Ribery made no mistake from the spot.
The hosts should have doubled their lead two minutes later as Mario Mandzukic beat his man only to shoot straight at Kozacik, but he proved more effective as a provider in the 37th minute as his knockdown set up Alaba, who beat a defender and fired home.
Kozacik may have been unable to stop that effort but he pulled off a stunning reflex save from a close range Robben header shortly before the break to keep the scoreline respectable.
Bayern didn't let up in the second-half -- which this season has seen them perform better in that period than in the first much to coach Pep Guardiola's displeasure -- with Ribery getting his second in the 61st minute.
Schweinsteiger scored their fourth three minutes later, turning neatly inside the area after receiving a pass from Mario Goetze, who had just come on for Philipp Lahm.
Goetze then tried his own luck only to see his excellent shot denied just by the bar but the youngster was to get a deserved goal in time added on.
