The German champions capitalised on RB Leipzig’s setback at Ingolstadt to go level at the top of the table with a dominant showing against their troubled guests
Arjen Robben, Thomas Muller and Douglas Costa netted either side of a Robert Lewandowski brace as Bayern Munich hammered Wolfsburg 5-0 on Saturday.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side dominated against the hapless Wolves from start to finish as they capitalised on RB Leipzig’s loss at Ingolstadt to go level at the top of the table.
It took Robben just 18 minutes to open the scoring with a trademark curling strike, before Lewandowski netted an easy finish not four minutes later.
The Pole then showed excellent reflexes to divert Muller’s wayward strike in, with the latter finally getting his first Bundesliga goal this season with 15 minutes remaining.
Costa then put the gloss on the win with a thundering strike that left Diego Benaglio with no chance.
It was another miserable 90 minutes in Bavaria for Wolfsburg, who have never won at Bayern and strayed closer to the drop zone with Ingolstadt’s success.
Good work from Muller and Lewandowski created the first opening for Juan Bernat, but Benaglio was quickly out to block the Spain international’s strike.
Although Benaglio saved again from Robben’s low, curling effort, the Bayern winger opened the scoring after 18 minutes.
Trading passes with captain Philipp Lahm on the right of the area, Robben then cut inside onto his left foot and fired a trademark shot beyond Benaglio into the far corner.
And four minutes later, the hosts doubled their advantage.
Arturo Vidal’s blast was deflected away from the target, but fell fortunately for Lewandowski, just yards out, to slot home his fourth goal in three games.
Bayern were back on the attack after the interval, with Benaglio saving from Franck Ribery at his near post, before Lewandowski grabbed his second.
Thiago Alcantara pulled the ball back for Muller to shoot on the edge of the box, and, as with his earlier goal, Lewandowski pounced on a wayward drive to toe into the net.
Mario Gomez lashed over at the other end, and Benaglio was then in action once again to parry Thiago’s dipping effort.
With 14 minutes remaining, Muller finally got off the mark – the Germany international followed Lewandowski’s example and turned Robben’s dragged attempt past Benaglio, before celebrating wildly.
Manuel Neuer tipped Daniel Caligiuri’s effort onto the post, but there was no way back for Wolfsburg as Bayern proved their class and added a fifth after Benaglio had kept Robben out.
With four minutes left, substitute Costa ran onto a loose ball to thunder a strike high past the helpless goalkeeper.
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