James Rodriguez was the star man as he scored and set up another in Bayern Munich’s 3-0 thrashing of Schalke at the Veltins Arena.
It was the Colombian’s first start for the club in the Bundesliga, and he had an immediate impact, scoring his first goal since his switch from Real Madrid in the summer.
Bayern dominated from kickoff, but it was the home side who threatened first, but Bastian Oczipka’s effort was ruled out for offside.
Two minutes later, the champions were given an opportunity to finally break the deadlock as Naldo was penalised for handling the ball in the box and
Robert Lewandowski stepped up to convert the spot kick to put Bayern 1-0 up, and his sixth league goal of the season.
Few minutes later, the Bavarians doubled their lead as James registered his first goal for his new club with an excellent finish, as Bayern went into the break 2-0 to the good.
After the break, the visitors continued from where they left off in the first half, as Thomas Mueller almost made it 3-0 but his header, off a James’ cross, came off the post.
Despite Schalke coming close themselves through Daniel Caliguin and Yevhen Konoplyanka later in the second half, it was Bayern who added to the scoreline.
Arturo Vidal decided to join the party with 15 minutes left, after he finished a brilliant piece of Bayern play, which saw a sequence of 22 passes before the Chilean calmly finished to seal a 3-0 win.
After inspiring Bayern to the a win that lifted them to the top of the Bundesliga table, James’s goal, scored with his first shot of the season, saw him become the first Colombian, since 1994, to score for Bayern in the German League.
