Bayern Munich returned to the top of the Bundesliga table with a stunning demolition of fierce rivals Borussia Dortmund.
And it was former Dortmund hero Robert Lewandowski who was the architect of his old side’s demise with a brace in this 5-0 thrashing and an overall performance filled with ingenuity and intent.
We took a closer look at the display of a man who became only the fifth player in Bundesliga history to score 200 goals.
30-SECOND REPORT
All set up for a true classic, Der Klassiker instead just served as a classic reminder that Bayern Munich remain the true force in German football. From the first minute they were on their game – which itself was essentially over after 17 minutes after two former BVB players put them 2-0 ahead.
Mats Hummels nodded them in front from Thiago Alcantara’s corner and then Lewandowski – also a former Westfalenstadion favourite – made it 2-0 seven minutes later when he pounced on Dan-Axel Zagadou’s awful pass to chip Roman Burki and volley in stylishly. It was game over within three minutes before the interval when Javi Martinez stroked in to make it three before Thomas Muller’s delicate cross was nodded in by Serge Gnabry to stun the visitors.
With the game won, the second half was a procession with Lewandowski tapping in Gnabry’s pass at the death to seal a five-star performance.
STATS
Goals – 2
Shots – 8
Shots on target – 4
Touches – 45
Key passes – 1
Pass accuracy – 77.3%
Dribbles – 4
Fouled – 4
GOT RIGHT – STILL THE KING
Would you believe that some say the Pole has slipped down a few notches this season? This despite the fact he now leads the way with 21 Bundesliga goals and could well break his best tally in a Bayern shirt – he’s eight goals shy of the 43 in all competitions he netted in 2016/17.
His first was pure skill and substance, a remarkable 13th Der Klassiker goal for Bayern against his old side, his second predatory.
He was a menace throughout.
GOT WRONG – LOSING HIS HEAD
He was really up for this game but he was in danger of making headlines for the wrong reasons in the second half as he flirted with the referee’s notebook. Needlessly booked for a tangle with Thomas Delaney, he then reacted angrily to Marco Reus’ meaty challenge and might have seen a second yellow after being involved in another fracas or two late on.
VERDICT 9/10
This was vintage Bayern, and vintage Lewandowski. He led the line like a lion and could have had a hat-trick. Only Roman Burki’s reflexes denied him that. Some say he’s a fading force but on this evidence he and Bayern still look like the behemoths that have bossed this league for the last six seasons.
All statistics are compiled using whoscored.com