Bayern Munich go goal crazy in record start to Bundesliga campaign - in pictures

German giants are chasing ninth successive league title - and have already laid down a marker

Leroy Sane of Bayern Munich celebrates scoring the 7th goal during the Bundesliga match against Schalke at Allianz Arena. Getty

epa08679597 Bayern's Jerome Boateng reacts during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and FC Schalke 04 in Munich, Germany, 18 September 2020. EPA/LUKAS BARTH-TUTTAS CONDITIONS - ATTENTION: The DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video.

A great night for Bayern, not so great for Schalke. EPA

Serge Gnabry of Bayern Munich celebrates scoring the opening goal with his new teammate Leroy Sane. Getty

Leon Goretzka scores Bayern's second goal. Getty

Hans-Dieter Flick, coach of Bayern Munich, enjoyed the first match of the new league campaign. Getty

Robert Lewandowski celebrates adding Bayern's third goal before half time, Getty

Gnabry (C) after his second and Bayern's fourth. Getty

Serge Gnabry celebrates with Leroy Sane after scoring their fifth goal to complete his hattrick. Reuters

Thomas Muller adds the sixth. Reuters

Leroy Sane after the seventh. Getty

David Wagner, coach of Schalke, had a tough evenning. Getty

Bayern's Serge Gnabry misses a chance for once. AP

Midfielder Jamal Musiala celebrates scoring the eighth. AFP

The Bundesliga trophy was on display prior to the match. Getty

Coach Hansi flick was full of admiration as Bayern Munich started their pursuit of a ninth successive Bundesliga title in ruthless fashion with a record 8-0 demolition of Schalke in their season opener.

"It was superb from us. Before the game we wanted this to be a game that would define where we are at this stage and my players did it very well," Flick said.

"We wanted to show that in this season again we are here."

Flick was quick to point out that it was just one game in a long and crowded season to come.

"We just had the first game. Let us go slowly here. But it was important to show we are on the right path."

It was a record win for an opening Bundesliga game and came less than a month after Bayern clinched the Champions League to complete the treble.

Bayern certainly did not miss Thiago Alcantara, who officially joined Liverpool on Friday, with Serge Gnabry scoring a hat-trick.

Ruthless Bayern scored three times in the first half, with Gnabry netting the opener in the fourth minute, Leon Goretzka grabbing the second and Robert Lewandowski scoring the third from the penalty spot.

Gnabry got his second two minutes after the break before completing his hat-trick just before the hour mark.

Thomas Muller then got on the scoresheet and Leroy Sane marked his Bundesliga debut for the club with a goal, before Jamal Musiala finished off the scoring in the 81st minute.

"Bayern were in sensationally good form," said Schalke coach David Wagner, whose team have failed to win any of their last 17 league matches.

"At the moment Bayern are most likely the world's strongest team. They showed that today.

"We did not play well at all. We now need to shake it off and show a reaction."