De Ligt Scores on Debut as Bayern Thrash D.C. United

Matthijs de Ligt of Netherlands in June 2022
Matthijs de Ligt of Netherlands in June 2022. Photo by Kieran McManus/Shutterstock (12976727aw)

Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich thumped MLS outfit D.C. United 6-2 during the first game of their pre-season tour of the United States. Netherlands international defender Matthijs de Ligt scored his debut goal for the club, along with Senegalese winger Sadio Mane. Marcel Sabitzer, Serge Gnabry, Joshua Zirkzee, and Thomas Müller rounded out the scoring for the German side.

De Ligt’s goal comes less than a week after the center-back completed his move to the Allianz Arena for a transfer fee of €77 million from Serie A club Juventus.

This crushing defeat no doubt gives retired Manchester United star Wayne Rooney a lot to think about ahead of his managerial debut for D.C. United. Despite being unveiled as the club’s new head coach on July 12, the 36-year-old coach had to resort to watching the game from the stand as he still awaits his work visa approval.

German and Bayern Munich legend Bastian Schweinsteiger expressed confidence in Rooney’s ability to steer the MLS club in the right direction. “By the way, it’s great to see my friend Wayne Rooney on the MLS sidelines very soon,” Schweinsteiger remarked prior to the game.

Ben loves sports so much but prefers watching other people do it. He prefers not to share what teams he's supporting but he is willing to admit that Lebron James is, in fact, the king.