Bayern crush Dortmund for 7-point lead

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MUNICH, Oct 4, (Agencies): Thomas Mueller and Robert Lewandowski struck twice each to steer Bayern Munich to a 5-1 demolition of second-placed Borussia Dortmund on Sunday, which allowed the champions to open a sevenpoint lead at the top of the Bundesliga as they equalled their record of eight consecutive wins at the start of a season.

Germany international Mueller opened his account in the 26th minute and doubled the hosts’ lead with a penalty nine minutes later for his eighth league goal as the Bundesliga leaders took control of the top-of-the-table clash.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang kept up his remarkable run of scoring in every one of Dortmund’s league matches this season as he slotted in from close range a minute later. But Bayern forward Lewandowski killed off any hopes of a comeback with two goals early in the second half to take his tally to 12 goals in all competitions in the last 12 days alone and nine in their last three Bundesliga matches, a league record. His 12 league goals on the first eight matchdays also equalled the Bundesliga record set by Christian Mueller in 1964/65 and Gerd Mueller in 1968/69 seasons. Former Dortmund team mate Mario Goetze added a fifth goal for the dazzling Bavarians in the 66th with the visitors having unconditionally surrendered. Undefeated Bayern, who are chasing a record fourth consecutive league crown, are on 24 points, seven clear of Dortmund.

Schalke had been flying high after four Bundesliga wins and two Europa League victories before Sunday’s kick-off. Cologne’s French striker Anthony Modeste claimed his sixth goal in eight games when he netted a Leonardo Bittencourt pass on the stroke of halftime at Schalke before the guests ran riot in the final ten minutes.

Cologne doubled their lead at Gelsenkirchen’s Veltins Arena when defensive midfielder Yannick Gerhardt slotted home after beating three defenders to make a mockery of the home back four, on 79 minutes. To compound Schalke’s misery, substitute Simon Voller drilled his shot into the bottom right-hand corner, just a minute after coming on, to wrap up the three points on 84 minutes.

On Saturday, Borussia Moenchengladbach continued their rise up the table as they bounced back from their midweek Champions League defeat against Manchester City with a 2-0 win over Wolfsburg. Norway midfielder Haavard Nordtvelt and French-born Guinean winger Ibrahima Traore did the damage to leave Gladbach now 13th and four points above the relegation places, having been bottom a fortnight ago, while Wolfsburg dropped to ninth. It was their third straight league match under caretaker coach Andre Schubert after Lucien Favre’s sudden resignation. Hertha Berlin’s impressive season continued as they climbed to fourth with a 3- 0 win over Hamburg in the capital as Salomon Kalou gave the hosts a first-half lead, then Vedad Ibisevic netted twice in as many minutes.

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