Bayern Munich have ran out 3-1 winners over a plucky and determined Nottingen side in their first-round DFB-Pokal clash at the Panoramastadion.
The visitors got off to the perfect start when Felix Zachmann handled in the box five minutes in, prompting the referee to award them a penalty that Arturo Vidal smashed into the top right-hand corner of the net.
Nottingen, who play in the fifth tier of German football, sent their fans wild on the quarter-hour mark when Michael Schurg dispossessed David Alaba and cut back to Niklas Hecht-Zirpel, whose first shot was saved but bundled in at the second attempt.
Their joy was short-lived as, just a minute later, the Bundesliga giants edged back in front through Mario Gotze, whose low strike whistled past Robin Kraski and into the bottom left-hand corner.
The game was all but over in the 26th minute when Jerome Boateng's 20-yard strike was met by Robert Lewandowski, who toe-poked a shot past the keeper from close range.
Nottingen punched above their weight in the second half and came close to scoring again on a number of occasions, but ultimately the quality of the German champions shone through and they were able to see the game out and progress to the second round of the competition.
Giuseppe Labellarte
