Heynckes buoyed by victory

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes was smiling once more yesterday after his side's 7-1 win over Hoffenheim silenced the critics who had him down for the sack only a few days ago. Heynckes' side provided the perfect response to rumours the Bayern coach would be gone in the summer and the 66-year-old said it was a "joy to watch". "We played a fantastic game," he said. "Our goals were right out of the textbook. It was a delicacy. We were on fire. My side were hungry and they were united and it was a joy to watch." The win sets Bayern up well for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 clash with Basel on Tuesday. However, while the performance and scoreline were just what the doctor ordered, injuries to Mario Gomez, Arjen Robben and Jerome Boateng provided the flip side of the coin. Gomez and Robben both limped from the field while Boateng reported afterwards that he had taken a knee to his right hip. "It is not comfortable, but it is not too bad either," he said on the Bavarian club's website.