Reds breeze past Mönchengladbach

FC Bayern have clicked into gear again. After the impressive 4-1 victory over PSV in the Champions League in midweek, the German record champions eased past Bundesliga rivals Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-0 on Saturday evening. Arturo Vidal and Douglas Costa scored for the Bavarians after 15 and 30 minutes in an impressive first half.

Bayern started with Manuel Neuer between the sticks behind a back four of Rafinha, Javi Martínez, Mats Hummels and David Alaba, with Xabi Alonso directing operations in front of the rearguard. Vidal and Thiago took up station in midfield, with Arjen Robben and Costa out wide, looking to serve striker Robert Lewandowski.

Carlo Ancelotti made four changes to the team thst saw off Eindhoven on Wednesday. Rafinha, Martínez, Vidal and Costa took over from Philipp Lahm, who was awarded a breather, and Jérôme Boateng, Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Müller, who started on the bench. Müller took over from Costa midway through the second half, with Kimmich and Renato Sanches replacing Robben and Costa with ten minutes to go.

The 75,000 capacity crowd at the Allianz Arena saw Carlo Ancelotti's troops roar off the blocks, creating a string of early chances. Bayern's relentless pressure paid off when Vidal headed in after fine build-up play by Robben and Rafinha on the quarter-hour.

By that time Rafinha and Robben had missed chances, and Lewandowski had been denied by the post. 15 minutes later Douglas Costa drove past visiting netminder Yann Sommer from 15 yards. The visitors were massed around their own box, but their defence was still ramshackle and their passing misplaced, with their attacking unit seemingly absent without leave.

Serene second half

After the interval Bayern continued to dominate proceedings but were increasingly content to sit on their lead, whereas the visitors showed more courage but still struggled to knit together anything of attacking note. Lewandowski was felled in the box 50 minutes into the contest, but match official Jochen Drees waved away the half-hearted appeals.

The Allianz Arena clock showed 70 minutes had been played when Borussia had their first gilt-edged chance, but André Hahn struck the post on the volley following a deep cross by Julian Korb. Sommer made two fine saves to deny Sanches and Alaba in the dying stages of an ultimately one-sided match.

The result means Bayern have 20 points from eight matches, three clear of Hertha Berlin. The German record champions' next two fixtures will be all-Bavaria derbies against FC Augsburg, a cup tie in Munich on Wednesday and a Bundesliga meeting in Augsburg next Saturday.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Gregor Salmen

FC Bayern - Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-0 (H-T: 2-0)