Berlin, Jan. 15 (BUS): Robert Lewandowski’s hat-trick and Corentin Tolisso beauty helped Bayern Munich crush Cologne 4-0 on Saturday to regain their six-point lead over Borussia Dortmund.
Bayern started the new year with a nine-point lead but their team decimated by the Corona virus lost to Borussia Moenchengladbach but Dortmund’s back-to-back victories, including 5-1 against Freiburg on Friday, narrowed the difference.
The German news agency (dpa) said the cruise in Cologne highlights that the tight race for the title is not yet guaranteed, as Bayern seek their 10th consecutive championship.
Lewandowski’s decisive touch from Thomas Muller’s pass opened the scoring in the ninth minute, and Muller was involved again in the 25th minute, playing an exhilarating one-on-two before Tolisso found the top corner to celebrate his return from infection with the Corona virus.
Mark Uth’s offside was as close to Cologne as Neuer’s return spoiled himself from the infection and Lewandowski sealed things off with two more after the break.
Neuer and Tolisso were the only changes to the 11 Bayern side who lost last week but Dayot Uppicano, Omar Richards, Leroy Sane and Tanguy Nyanzo are all back in the squad.
There was no change in Cologne as he sought to achieve the fourth win in a row, and the first against Bayern since 2011, but was often punished for pushing up and then losing the ball in the middle of the field. They are now sitting eighth and out of the European spots.
Sane’s front turned the screw when he made a simple pass for Lewandowski and set up a hat-trick – the 23rd Polish striker of the season – with a superb run.
Bayern have now set a record in each of their last 66 Bundesliga matches, a record for most consecutive matches without a draw.
Lewandowski didn’t set an individual record, but his latest run brought him to 300 Bundesliga career goals – a figure only 365 surpassed by legendary Gerd Muller.
Hoffenheim lost 2-1 to Union Berlin, which is in fourth place temporarily, and will lose third place if Bayer Leverkusen win the late match at the Gladbach stadium.
Mainz beat Bochum 1-0, Stuttgart’s fears continued with their 2-0 home defeat to RB Leizpig and crisis clubs Wolfsburg and Hertha Berlin shared a goalless draw.
Matches were held with a small number of fans in stadiums due to the coronavirus pandemic, with exact numbers determined by regional rules.
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