Remorseless Bayern brush Plzeň aside

FC Bayern München continued to set the pace in UEFA Champions League Group D with a commanding home victory against FC Viktoria Plzeň.

The European title holders overwhelmed the Czech champions with an imperious display which produced countless chances. Franck Ribéry converted a penalty on 25 minutes to get the Bundesliga leaders started before David Alaba added a rare right-foot finish to double the advantage. Further strikes in the second half from Ribéry and Bastian Schweinsteiger preceded Mario Götze's first competitive goal for Bayern as Josep Guardiola's ensemble maintained their three-point cushion at the top of the section.

As anticipated it was Bayern who controlled possession from the off, creating a flurry of early openings. Alaba almost scored a repeat of his matchday one strike against PFC CSKA Moskva with a fierce free-kick which was spilled by Matúš Kozáčik, while Mario Mandžukic twice headed off target and Arjen Robben went close – all within the first 15 minutes.

Given they had survived the initial peppering, it almost seemed a pity that Plzeň should concede the opener from a penalty. Bayern's build-up had earned a goal, though, with Toni Kroos feeding Robben, whose quick feet fooled Roman Hubník into felling the Dutchman and gave Ribéry the opportunity to convert from the spot.

Mandžukić, Robben and Kroos all brought good saves from Kozáčik in the 12 minutes that passed before Bayern's inevitable second. It came from an unlikely source in the form of Alaba's right boot, the Austria left-back skipping along the outskirts of the box before slotting into the near corner with his supposedly weaker foot.

Robben had a glancing header clawed out and Kroos smashed into the side netting before the half was out, leaving the home fans eager for more of the same. Schweinsteiger scraped the side netting again ten minutes after the restart but Bayern were made to wait until just after the hour for Ribéry to poke in a fine third after a smart turn in the area.

Götze entered the fray soon afterwards and within seconds had added to the two assists he supplied against 1. FSV Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga at the weekend – here, teeing up Schweinsteiger who spun superbly to dispatch goal No4. Götze then clipped the bar with the most delicate of chips, yet his disappointment was short-lived as he completed the scoring with a thumping finish in stoppage time.