German Cup: Bayern Munich Cruises After 3 Bundesliga Clubs Narrowly Avoid Upsets

Thomas Mueller scored twice in three first-half minutes as Bayern Munich beat second-division Ulm 4-0 in the German Cup on Friday in their first match under coach Vincent Kompany.

Harry Kane and Kingsley Coman then scored late in the second half to complete the rout in the first competitive fixture of the German football season.

Winners of 20 German Cups, Bayern have failed to make it past the quarter-finals of the competition since winning the treble in 2019-20.

Bayern brought in Kompany as manager in the summer after failing to win a trophy last season, their first trophyless campaign since 2012.

Bayern veteran Mueller, 34, tapped in a Joshua Kimmich pass after 12 minutes and added another shortly after, tucking in a Serge Gnabry cross.

Coman turned in a pass from new signing Michael Olise with 11 minutes remaining before Kane added another in injury time, his first German Cup goal.

But Hoffenheim, St Pauli and Mainz all had to work a lot harder before booking their place in the next round.

Hoffenheim struggled most at third-tier Wurzburger Kickers.

Hoffenheim went behind after 11 minutes but an own goal eight minutes later took the game to extra time. Wurzburg led again after scoring in the 100th minute, but Marius Bülter equalized for Hoffenheim in the 107th to take the game to penalty kicks.

Wurzburg captain Dominik Meisel was the only player to miss from the spot as Hoffenheim won the shootout 5-3.

Fourth-tier Hallescher was seconds away from embarrassing last season’s second-division champion St Pauli.

Hallescher led 2-1 until Adam Dźwigała equalized in the 94th. Substitute Lars Ritzka scored the winner for the Hamburg club in the 110th minute to give it a 3-2 victory.

Mainz recovered from going 1-0 down against third-tier Wehen Wiesbaden and needed extra-time goals from captain Jonathan Burkardt and midfielder Nadiem Amiri to clinch a 3-1 win.

(With inputs from Agencies)