Gnabry the hero as Reds hammer Stuttgart

FC Bayern downed VfB Stuttgart 5-0 on Tuesday, sealing the autumn championship, the unofficial title awarded to the team top of the table at the midpoint of the campaign. Serge Gnabry was involved in all five goals, handing Bayern the lead late in the first half and doubling the advantage after the restart. Robert Lewandowski bagged a brace within three minutes before Gnabry rounded off the final scoreline.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Benjamin Pavard, Niklas Süle, Lucas Hernández and Alphonso Davies in a back four. Marc Roca and Jamal Musiala featured in a twin holding role behind Kingsley Coman, Thomas Müller and Gnabry, with Lewandowski up front. Coman had to be replaced with injury in the first half, Leroy Sané taking over. Tanguy Nianzou, Malik Tillman, Omar Richards and Michaël Cuisance came on for Roca, Gnabry, Davies and Müller in the second half.

Utter dominance

Once referee Robert Schröder had set the game in motion, Bayern were in the driving seat. Gnabry saw an effort blocked and fired wide. VfB keeper Florian Müller denied Lewandowski, Gnabry miscuing a shot. Stuttgart's only chance came when Marmoush dragged a shot well wide.

Müller saved against Gnabry and sub Sané, Pavard seeing a volley deflected wide. Bayern took an utterly deserved lead when Sané found Gnabry, who unleashed a glorious curler into the far top corner against his hometown club shortly before half-time.

Thrashing after half-time

The home side shifted up a gear now, the contest being evenly-balanced for a spell. Marmoush miscued and Förster tested Neuer, but Bayern twisted the knife when they won the ball in midfield, Müller setting up Gnabry, who found the net. Lewandowski saw an effort saved and Marmoush fired wide at the other end.

A fine Gnabry pass soon found Lewandowski, who lobbed the ball over Müller and into the net. The goal opened the floodgates, and Lewandowski rounded off his brace just three minutes later, slotting home from close range following a Gnabry square. The Poland captain equalled Gerd Müller's record of 42 goals in a calendar year with his second against Stuttgart.

Gnabry bagged a hat-trick just two minutes later, making the most of a mix-up in the box and tapping home. Stuttgart sub Faghir fired just wide at the other end before Lewandowski hit the post, and Schröder soon put the home side out of their misery.

The result takes Bayern onto 40 points from 16 matches, nine ahead of Dortmund, who take on Fürth on Wednesday. They can no longer be toppled from their perch before the winter break. The Bavarians will be back in action on Friday, when they entertain Wolfsburg.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen