Bayern routs Hertha 4-1 to restore 6-point Bundesliga lead

BERLIN (AP) — For less than the fifth Bundesliga sport this season, Robert Lewandowski didn’t rating.

He didn’t need to as Bayern Munich outclassed Hertha Berlin 4-1 on Sunday to revive its six-point lead within the Bundesliga.

The guests ought to have received by much more with Bayern having a number of missed possibilities. It additionally noticed two targets rightly dominated out by way of VAR.

Corentin Tolisso and Thomas Müller scored within the first half earlier than Leroy Sané and Serge Gnabry rewarded Bayern’s dominance within the second.

Substitute Jurgen Ekkelenkamp scored seconds after approaching for Hertha’s comfort aim, however the scoreline didn’t mirror a sport by which the house crew had 4 makes an attempt at aim in comparison with the guests’ 30.

“It was enjoyable for 90 minutes,” Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich stated. “We managed the sport.”

Lewandowski, who scored a hat trick as Bayern received 5-0 within the groups’ earlier assembly in August, stays on 23 targets after 20 rounds of the league.

Leipzig defeated Wolfsburg 2-0 within the early match, stretching the guests’ winless run to 11-games throughout all competitions.

Wolfsburg’s stoop is sweet information for Hertha, which stays simply three factors above the relegation zone, one level above Wolfsburg.

That’s not ok for Hertha’s long-suffering followers, who had been led to imagine European qualification was simply the beginning after Lars Windhorst invested 374 million euros ($425 million) within the membership since 2019.

Bayern's Corentin Tolisso celebrates after scoring in the course of the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hertha Berlin and Bayern Munich on the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022.

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Native media reported that round 80 Hertha followers crashed the crew’s coaching session on Saturday to berate the gamers following their German Cup defeat at house to metropolis rival Union Berlin on Wednesday.

A DJ performed Sunday to a just about empty stadium earlier than kickoff – solely 3,000 individuals have been allowed within the 74,475-capacity Olympiastadion resulting from measures towards the coronavirus.

In distinction to Hertha, Bayern had a complete week to organize for the sport as there was no German Cup distraction. The Bavarian powerhouse was knocked out by Borussia Mönchengladbach — 5-0 — within the earlier spherical.

Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann was capable of name upon an virtually full squad, with simply Leon Goretzka and Alphonso Davies lacking. Hertha counterpart Tayfun Korkut gave 17-year-old defender Linus Gechter his first Bundesliga begin. The younger participant impressed with a goal-line clearance to disclaim Gnabry within the second half.

Bayern wanted lower than two minutes to attain, although Tolisso’s aim was chalked off for offside after the VAR verify.

Kingsley Coman crossed for Tolisso to move the opener within the twenty fifth, ending a short encouraging interval from Hertha.

Bayern’s assaults resumed and Müller duly scored earlier than the break when Hertha’s protection failed to trace him for Kimmich’s free kick.

Vladimir Darida might need made the sport thrilling when he missed Hertha’s finest likelihood from shut vary after Maximilian Mittelstädt crossed from the left.

Bayern maintained its grip on the sport and Korkut reacted with three adjustments earlier than the hour-mark, bringing on new signing Fredrik André Björkan for his Bundesliga debut.

The guests continued to overlook possibilities till Hertha’s finest participant, goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow, gifted Sané the third aim within the seventy fifth when he tried to play the ball throughout aim.

Gnabry bought the fourth 4 minutes later, earlier than Ekkelenkamp scored together with his first contact, lifting the ball over Manuel Neuer after the underworked Bayern ’keeper saved fellow substitute Stevan Jovetic’s effort.

Sané thought he’d ended the sport with a flourish as he scored arguably the best aim within the 89th. However a VAR verify confirmed he managed the ball briefly together with his arm earlier than he let fly contained in the far put up.

It didn’t matter in the long run as Bayern ruthlessly confirmed why it’s anticipated to wrap up a record-extending tenth consecutive title. Borussia Dortmund had reduce the hole to a few factors on Saturday with a considerably lucky win at Hoffenheim.

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Ciarán Fahey on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cfaheyAP