By Our Reporter
Tottenham Hotspur suffered their worst home defeat in Europe as Serge Gnabry scored four times in Bayern Munich’s 7-2 romp to seize control of UEFA Champions League Group B on Tuesday.
Master marksman Robert Lewandowski also scored twice as Bayern responded to going behind in devastating fashion
When Son Heung-min gave last season’s runners-up Tottenham a deserved 12th minute lead, the home fans were buoyant.
But their hopes were crushed as Spurs leaked in seven goals at home for the first time in any major competition.
To make matters worse for Mauricio Pochettino’s shell-shocked side, it was Gnabry, a former Arsenal player, who was the architect of their humiliation.
In a rip-roaring start to the first clash between the sides for 35 years, Son had twice wasted guilt-edge opportunities before firing Tottenham in front.
But Tottenham’s lead lasted only three minutes as Joshua Kimmich’s superb long-range effort gave Hugo Lloris no chance.
Tottenham were still posing a threat in a wide-open game but three Bayern Munich goals in 10 minutes left their hopes of a first win in Group B in tatters.
Lewandowski has already bagged 10 goals in six Bundesliga games this season and showed why he is one of the world’s most-feared strikers as he beat Lloris with a shot on the turn seconds before the half-time.
If that was a cruel blow for Tottenham, what happened in the opening minutes of the second half was crushing.
Gnabry, who suffered several frustrating years at Arsenal, shredded Tottenham’s defence in the 53rd minute to score a breathtaking solo goal and struck again two minutes later.
Harry Kane’s penalty kick restored some hope for Tottenham on the hour after Danny Rose was adjudged to have been fouled.
But Bayern Munich were in ruthless mood.
Gnabry completed his hat-trick in the 83rd minute, racing on to Thiago Alcantara’s long ball and then wrong-footing Lloris with a classy finish.
With the home fans flooding towards the exits and Bayern Munich’s followers joyfully singing “football’s coming home”, the visitors piled on the agony.
Lewandowski was played in by Philippe Coutinho and he finished in deadly fashion.
With Tottenham’s defence AWOL again, Gnabry put Niko Kovac’s team in seventh heaven.
Bayern Munich lead Group B with six points from two games, with Tottenham on one.
Red Star Belgrade are second with three points after beating Olympiakos 3-1 in the group’s other match.(Reuters/NAN)
