Munich beat Luxembourg 41-25 in the Bundesliga on Friday evening. The result followed what the recent form suggested would happen, though the margin was wider than most expected. By then the visitors had already shown they could be vulnerable, but this was a different level of performance from the hosts.
What struck me watching was how Munich controlled things from the start. They are a team that knows how to play against sides that lack depth, and Luxembourg simply could not match the intensity over 60 minutes. And here's the thing — the scoreline tells you very little about the actual flow of the game.
The visitors have been struggling for consistency all season. Their last five results show a pattern of heavy defeats against stronger opposition, with only one game where they kept it fairly close. Munich, by contrast, have been scoring freely at home and this victory extended their positive run.
We had tipped the home side to win with 68 per cent confidence before kick-off, and the result confirmed that assessment. It was not a surprise, but the manner of the victory — the way Munich imposed themselves — was worth noting. They did not need to chase the game at any point.
What this means for the table is straightforward. Munich move further clear of the mid-table pack, while Luxembourg remain in the lower half with little hope of climbing. The goal difference of 16 goals in this match alone will affect both teams' positions for some time to come.