On-song Reds down Düsseldorf and retain lead

FC Bayern beat Fortuna Düsseldorf 4-1 on Sunday, retaining their lead in the table. Bayern dominated throughout, and Kingsley Coman rewarded them with a brace in the first half before Serge Gnabry closed out the meeting after half-time. Fortuna's Dodi Lukebakio scored a late consolation goal from the penalty spot, but sub Leon Goretzka found the net in injury time.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Joshua Kimmich, Niklas Süle, Mats Hummels and David Alaba in a back four. Javi Martínez and Thiago featured in a twin holding role behind Gnabry, Thomas Müller and Coman, with Robert Lewandowski as lone striker.

Brace for Kingsley

The 54,600 capacity crowd in Düsseldorf saw the German record champions go straight onto the front foot. Barely five minutes had been played when Coman hit the post following a Gnabry pass, with Thiago soon miscuing a header. Coman handed Bayern the lead on the quarter-hour, his cross-cum-shot sailing into the far corner of the net as Müller failed to get a touch to the ball, distracting Fortuna netminder Michael Rensing.

Lewandowski stepped up to take a free-kick from 20 yards and fired just wide. Bayern were dominant but the promoted side were constantly looking to attack, and their biggest chance came when Dawid Kownacki saw his deflected shot go over the bar. Coman warmed Rensing's gloves, but the Frenchman soon rounded off his brace, Kimmich getting past the rearguard and cutting back to Coman, who fired into the top corner of the net.

Plain sailing

Proceedings were similar after the restart, and Thiago forced a strong save from Rensing. There was bad news when Neuer had to be replaced with injury, Sven Ulreich taking over. Gnabry soon twisted the knife, Müller shining with an acrobatic header from a Thiago cross to invite the winger to tap in. Rensing proved equal to efforts from Thiago and Lewandowski before Bayern increasingly engaged cruise control.

Goretzka came on for Müller before James took over from Gnabry. Thiago miscued an effort before Hummels unluckily handled in Bayern's box, Lukebakio converting the penalty awarded after a VAR intervention. The final flourish came when Lewandowski crossed from the right, Goretzka capitalising on the following mix-up and slotting home before match official Felix Zwayer blew for full-time.

The result means Bayern have 67 points from 29 matches, one ahead of Dortmund, who beat Mainz on Saturday. The German record champions will take on Werder Bremen in the next two matches, a Bundesliga encounter at the Allianz Arena on 20 April and a DFB Cup clash in Bremen on 24 April.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen