Bayern Munich book place in Champions League last 16 with another comfortable win over Viktoria Plzen

Bayern were without Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala, Matthijs de Ligt, Manuel Neuer and Alphonso Davies, yet were still able to bring Marcel Sabitzer and Ryan Gravenberch off the bench – among others. Which is to say that they have an incredible squad – one of the finest ever assembled – and should be among the favourites to win this season’s Champions League.

Yet the team have struggled in the Bundesliga and Julian Nagelsmann struggling to find his best XI and formation. No one is any the wiser after tonight – Plzen were just not in their class – but at some point soon, Nagelsmann needs to settle on something. And the odd thing is, his squad is so talented it almost doesn’t matter what that is.

A back four of Mazraoui, Upamecano, De Ligt and Davies, with a midfield of Kimmich, Goretzka and Musiala and a front three of Coman, Mane and Sane might not be the best combination in the best system, but there’s no way of knowing what is. This line-up, though, would give them flexibility, solidity, invention and width.

10’ – GOAL! Viktoria Plzen 0-1 Bayern Munich (Mane) This is very nicely done. Mane pulls left – he can’t help himself – wriggles across the face of the box and feeds Goretzka who snaps a return that sticks his mate in on goal. His first touch is a little heavy, but it commits the keeper who dives to smother, except Mane lengthens his stride beautifully, reaching the ball first to flick over Stanek’s desperate dive.

14’ – GOAL! Viktoria Plzen 0-2 Bayern Munich (Muller) It’s Goretzka again! He turns a terrific reverse-pass out to the left, Coman crosses first time, and Muller punches home from close range. Bayern barely celebrate and Jonathan Peace barely raises his voice which, if you remember him from his Capital Gold days in the 80s and 90s, is quite a thing.

25’ – GOAL! Viktoria Plzen 0-3 Bayern Munich (Goretzka) This is like a training match. Coman bundles through a challenge down the right, squares to the edge, and when Sane tickles a touch, Goretzka is in front of goal, looking one way then shooting the other as the goalie buys the subterfuge like it’s going out of fashion. If Bayern can be arsed, this could get embarrassing for all concerned.

35’ – GOAL! Viktoria Plzen 0-4 Bayern Munich (Goretzka) Plzen are game, but they’ve no defensive organisation, so when Sane gets on the ball outside the box, there’s no pressure on him. That allows him to wait and wait before darting a pass through for the marauding Goretzka, who dinks a fine finish over the diving Stanek and this could soon get messier than it already is.

62’ – GOAL! Viktoria Plzen 1-4 Bayern Munich (Vlkanova) It’s been coming! Bucha crosses from the right, Mosquera heads down and back, and Vlkanova, given time, drills a terrific low finish inside the near post! The comeback is on!

75’ – GOAL! Viktoria Plzen 2-4 Bayern Munich This is very nicely done, Kliment and Vlkanova combining with nice, one-touch play to send Holic down the right. His cross is a goodun and when Klimen controls, the ball bounces up for him to spin and drill into the corner beforee Ulreich can move. It’s on! OK, it isnt, but let’s pretend.