BAYERN MUNICH THRASHED Union Berlin 4-0 to open a seven-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga as Robert Lewandowski netted twice to pass the milestone of 30 league goals this season.
Second-placed Borussia Dortmund are away to Cologne on Sunday.
“We played very well and created many chances. We wanted to win to widen the gap, ahead of Dortmund,” admitted goal-scorer Kingsley Coman.
Bayern went ahead at the Allianz Arena when Coman hit a superb shot into the top corner from outside the area on 16 minutes.
Teenage French defender Tanguy Nianzou then headed in his first Bayern goal before Lewandowski converted a penalty to make it 3-0 at the break.
After drawing their previous two league games, Bayern were all business by dominating possession and never allowing Union to settle.
Lewandowski has chalked up 43 goals for Bayern this season in all competitions.
Important win in front of our fans 💪🏽🔥 pic.twitter.com/PlyJK72LcJ
— Jamal Musiala (@JamalMusiala) March 19, 2022
He is one of four players out of contract in 2023, yet Bayern are reportedly yet to offer him an extension.
The second half had barely begun when Lewandowski, who showed no signs of a midweek knee-injury scare, made it 4-0 by sweeping in a Jamal Musiala pass.
At the other end, Bayern defender Lucas Hernandez cleared a shot from a tight angle by Union striker Taiwo Awoniyi off the line.
The tempo dropped early in the second half, but Bayern were rarely tested thereafter as they cruised to the win.
Even Joshua Kimmich, who is notoriously hard on his team’s performances, was happy with Bayern’s win.
“We allowed them two or three chances in the first half that were unnecessary, but it was still a deserved victory,” said Kimmich.
“The attitude and approach were right.”
The victory was Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer’s 311th in the Bundesliga, breaking the record he previously shared with Oliver Kahn.
Great win 🔴⚪️ @FCBayern #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/sMDxD8VKrr
— Corentin Tolisso (@CorentinTolisso) March 19, 2022
- Hertha end winless streak -
Earlier, Hertha Berlin earned their first win of 2022 to climb out of the bottom two with a 3-0 home victory over Hoffenheim despite new coach Felix Magath being sidelined by Covid.
Hertha ended a nine-match winless streak in the Bundesliga by brushing aside Champions League-chasing Hoffenheim despite Magath watching in bed from his Berlin hotel.
Magath, 68, is Hertha’s third coach this season, having been brought in last Sunday after Toryan Korkut was sacked.
Defender Niklas Stark and striker Ishak Belfodil put Hertha 2-0 up at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium before Hoffenheim defender David Raum scored an own goal.
