Bayern Munich returned to winning ways in the Bundesliga on Saturday with a 5-1 thrashing of FC Köln as the Bundesliga entered match day 25.
Bayern Munich took the lead on 18 minutes as Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting met Leon Goretzka’s precise cross with a firm header three yards out.
It was 2-0 to Bayern in the 33rd minute with Goretzka again the provider as the league’s top scorer Robert Lewandowski swept home from 10 yards.
Shocking defending allowed Köln half the deficit as Ellyes Skhiri was astonishingly allowed to dance into the Bayern penalty area before firing past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer with frightening force.
Normal service resumed for Bayern in the 65th minute as returning starts, Serge Gnabry and Thomas Muller combined to release the dangerous Lewandowski who was never going to miss from 16 yards.
Bayern made it 4-1 in the 82nd minute through another delightful team goal.
Leroy Sane was the architect of the move as he drove forward with purpose before squaring off for Lucas Hernadez on the far side.
The France international then threaded a dangerous low cross into the box and the onrushing Gnabry was left with the straightforward task of sliding the box into an unguarded net.
Gnabry completed his brace, Bayern’s fifth, with two minutes remaining as he headed home another pin point Goretzka cross as the champions completed an emphatic victory.
Second placed RasenBallsport Leipzig looked like they had lost valuable ground in the title race as they went down 0-2 with Borussia Moenchengladbach at the Red Bull Arena, Leipzig in the first half.
Jonas Hofmann and scored in the first half to give the visitors a healthy first half advantage.
Christopher Nkunku then netted for the home side in the 57th minute to set up a grandstand finish.
Yussuf Poulsen then netted the equalizer nine minutes later to raise hopes of a memorable comeback win.
Alexander Soerloth then netted the winner for Leipzig in the third minute of stoppage time to spark furious celebrations in the home dugout.
Borussia Dortmund moved to fifth on the standings with a 3-0 victory over Arminia Bielefeld with Mahmoud Dahoud, Jadon Sancho and Reinier providing the goals for the hosts at Signal Idunal Park.
Schalke appear doomed after suffering yet another heavy beating.
This time, the North Rhine-Westphalia club were beaten 5-1 by VfB Stuttgart at the Mercedes Benz Arena with Wataru Endo netting a brace for the victors.
Wolfsburg cemented their place in third with a 2-0 win over Hertha Berlin at the Volkswagen Arena.
Results
Bayern Munich 5 – 1 FC Köln
Borussia Dortmund 3 – 0 Arminia Bielefeld
VfB Stuttgart 5 – 1 Schalke 04
Wolfsburg 2 – 0 Hertha Berlin
RasenBallsport Leipzig 3 – 2 Borussia Moenchengladbach
