Bayern Munich 4-1 Hoffenheim: Bundesliga champions extend their lead at the top to TEN points with Jerome Boateng, Thomas Muller, Robert Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry all on target in emphatic win
- Bayern Munich tightened their grip on top spot after brushing aside Hoffenheim
- Jerome Boateng rose highest to glance home inside the box for the opening goal
- The champions then doubled their lead through Thomas Muller’s powerful strike
- Andrej Kramaric ghosted between defenders to haul one back for Hoffenheim
- Bayern restored their two-goal advantage when Robert Lewandowski tapped in
- Serge Gnabry extended the lead after smashing through Oliver Baumann’s legs
Bayern Munich tightened their grip on the Bundesliga summit after easing to victory over Hoffenheim.
Hansi Flick’s team raced into a two-goal lead and recovered well from Andrej Kramaric’s consolation to net twice more and move ten points clear of RB Leipzig.
Jerome Boateng was the unlikely scorer of the hosts’ first goal – with the veteran defender rising highest to nod home Joshua Kimmich’s inviting delivery.
Bayern Munich have extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga after beating Hoffenheim
Robert Lewandowki’s deft footwork freed up Thomas Muller to crash home the second for the champions.
After the Poland ace ghosted his way beyond several defenders, the ball awkwardly came loose for his team-mate, who applied a ruthless finish.
The black mark on Bayern’s record this season is their shaky defending, however, and it was more poor play at the back that handed Hoffenheim a glimmer of hope.
Boateng (left) had celebrated wildly with David Alaba after the champions edged into the lead
The Bayern defender (second from right) climbed highest to nod home Joshua Kimmich’s cross
Andrej Kramaric was able to squeeze beyond David Alaba and Boateng with consummate ease before coolly volleying home Ihlas Bebous’ cross.
The Champions League holders responded in style, though, to restore their two-goal advantage.
This time, Lewandowski turned from provider to scorer after tapping home on 57 minutes.
Oliver Baumann was guilty of letting Kingsley Coman’s cross squirm horribly out of his grasp and the competition’s top scorer capitalised in typical fashion.
Andrej Kramaric ghosted between Alaba and Boateng to haul one goal back for Hoffenheim
And just a matter of minutes later, a shellshocked Hoffenheim found themselves even further behind.
Coman was afforded time and space to drift inside and pick out Serge Gnabry to the left of goal.
From a difficult angle, the former Arsenal winger managed to steer his effort through the legs of Baumann.
Robert Lewandowski pounced on a loose ball form close range to tuck in Bayern’s third goal
Serge Gnabry added further gloss to the scoreline for the champions after sliding home coolly
Despite the emphatic nature of the scoreline, Bayern continued to press forward in search of another goal.
Benjamin Pavard cracked home a strike from the edge of the penalty area after taking a pass from substitute Leroy Sane into his stride.
Only a slender offside decision prevented the memorable strike from standing.
Manuel Neuer was found in impressive form and managed to see Ihlas Bebou’s header wide
Lewandowski, on the hunt for his own goal, was unable to squeeze a shot past Oliver Baumann