Dominant Reds breeze past Union

FC Bayern beat Union Berlin 4-0 on Saturday, laying down a marker before the international break. Kingsley Coman, Tanguy Nianzou and Robert Lewandowski handed the champions a more than comfortable lead before half-time. Lewandowski added gloss to the scoreline right after the restart, and Munich shifted down through the gears.

Bayern lined up with Manuel Neuer in goal and Josip Stanišić, Nianzou, Dayot Upamecano and Lucas Hernández in defence. Joshua Kimmich and Jamal Musiala anchored a midfield featuring Coman, Thomas Müller and Leroy Sané, with Lewandowski up front. Marcel Sabitzer, Serge Gnabry, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Marc Roca and Corentin Tolisso took over from Musiala, Coman, Müller, Sané and Kimmich in the second half.

Comfortable lead

Bayern were dominant from the off, although the first chance fell to the visitors, Sheraldo Becker heading wide. Union keeper Andreas Luthe made a fine save against Lewandowski, but Bayern took the lead when Coman unleashed a belter from 20 yards that found the net via Luthe's fingertips. Bayern had Neuer to thank for preserving the lead when he saved a Robin Knoche effort from close range, with Taiwo Awoniyi aiming just wide.

But just when it looked as if Union enjoyed a spell in command, Nianzou rose high to connect with a Kimmich corner and beat Luthe with a powerful header, scoring his maiden goal for Bayern. Coman saw an effort blocked and Luthe denied Sané before Coman aimed too high. Munich were awarded a penalty with the half-time whistle imminent, Luthe upending Lewandowski, and the Pole dispatched from the spot to effectively close out the meeting.

Plain sailing

Proceedings were similar after the restart, and Müller's brilliant pass soon found Musiala, whose square invited Lewandowski to tap in and score his 31st goal this campaign. Neuer parried a deflected Genki Haraguchi shot, Awoniyi seeing the rebound blocked. Bayern engaged cruise control now, but they were always a step quicker than their opponents.

Union went looking for a response but Bayern were solid at the back and camped out in their opponents' half at times, with chances few and far between. The champions stepped it up a notch in the closing stages, Gnabry hitting the side-netting before Roca and Tolisso miscued from distance, and match official Harm Osmers blew for full-time.

The result takes Bayern onto 63 points from 27 matches, seven ahead of Dortmund, who take on Köln on Sunday. A number of FCB pros will be on national team duty during the international break before the Reds return to action on 2 April, when they travel to face Freiburg.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen