Irresistible Reds rout Schalke and cut gap

FC Bayern beat FC Schalke 5-0 on Saturday evening, cutting the gap to RB Leipzig to one point. Impressive as the scoreline is, it does not reflect the magnificent display the German record champions turned in. Robert Lewandowski handed Bayern an early lead. Munich had two goals disallowed for offside, but Thomas Müller doubled the advantage with the half-time whistle imminent. Leon Goretzka put the game to bed after the interval, Thiago adding a fourth before sub Serge Gnabry rounded off the scoring in the closing stages.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Benjamin Pavard, Jérôme Boateng, David Alaba and Alphonso Davies in a back four. Joshua Kimmich and Thiago anchored a midfield featuring Müller, Goretzka and Ivan Perišić, with hitman Lewandowski up front. Philippe Coutinho, Gnabry and Corentin Tolisso took over from Thiago, Perišić and Goretzka in the second half.

Lewy opens

The 75,000 capacity crowd at the Allianz Arena saw Bayern hit the ground running. A Perišić header warmed the gloves of Schalke keeper Markus Schubert, but Lewandowski put Bayern ahead when Schubert flapped at a Müller cross, Perišić seeing his shot blocked before the Poland captain smashed home. Rabbi Matondo's deflected effort hit the crossbar at the other end before Perišić hit the side netting.

Bayern had the ball in the back of the net when Müller deflected a Goretzka shot, but the linesman's flag was raised for offside. Lewandowski fired wide before seeing an effort saved. Goretzka invited Lewandowski to tap home, but it was ruled out for Pavard's offside position. Müller saw a header blocked but soon doubled the lead from five yards, scoring his 100th goal at the Allianz Arena.

Plain sailing

Proceedings were similar after half-time. An Alaba free-kick drew a fine save from Schubert, but Goretzka closed out the meeting when he saw a header blocked but shone with a scissor-kick that found the net. Things became awkward for the Ruhr valley outfit when Lewandowski invited the unmarked Thiago to tap home.

Bayern engaged cruise control now, but they were always a step quicker than the visitors. Sub Coutinho saw an effort saved, Lewandowski firing over before Schubert beat Müller to a Coutinho cross. Gnabry added a fifth when he let fly from 20 yards, beating Schubert, who was irritated by the players in front of him.

The result takes Bayern onto 39 points from 19 matches, only one adrift of Leipzig, who lost to Frankfurt earlier on Saturday. The Bavarians will be back in action next Saturday, when they travel to face Mainz in the Bundesliga.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen