On-fire Reds lay down marker

FC Bayern beat Union Berlin 3-0 on Sunday, reclaiming top spot in the Bundesliga table. The 75,000 full house at the Allianz Arena saw Bayern dominate throughout, and Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting, Kingsley Coman and Jamal Musiala handed them a comfortable three-goal lead in the first half. With no more goals to come, Bayern sealed a crucial win over direct rivals.

The German record champions started with Yann Sommer in goal and Josip Stanišić, Benjamin Pavard, Matthijs de Ligt and Alphonso Davies in defence. Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich anchored a midfield featuring Thomas Müller, Musiala and Coman, with Choupo-Moting up front. Serge Gnabry, comeback kid Sadio Mané, Leroy Sané, João Cancelo and Mathys Tel came on for Choupo-Moting, Coman, Kimmich and Stanišić and Müller in the second half.

Utter dominance

Once referee Marco Fritz whistled play underway, it was all Bayern in the early stages, and Davies soon shone with a fine pass to Choupo-Moting, who rounded keeper Frederik Rönnow before squaring to Müller, whose first touch let him down. Musiala fired wide from distance before Jérôme Roussillon tested Sommer. Musiala saw a shot saved and another one blocked.

Rönnow denied Müller but a goal was coming and arrived when Choupo-Moting rose high to meet Coman's fine cross and headed across goal. Aïssa Laïdouni blasted over but Müller soon teed up the charging Coman, who rounded Rönnow and slotted home from a tight angle. Union were reeling now, and Müller's cutback invited Musiala to tap in with the half-time whistle imminent, marking his 20th birthday in style.

Plain sailing

Proceedings were similar after half-time, and Rönnow denied Davies before Musiala aimed too high. Sheraldo Becker saw an effort deflected behind, and Munich eased back a shade as both coaches made a string of changes.

Bayern upped the ante again with 20 minutes to go and chances came and went for Müller, Gnabry and Goretzka. Seguin saw a shot blocked after Munich gifted away possession before Rönnow made a fine save to deny Davies, and the match petered out as Bayern sealed a crucial victory.

The result takes Bayern onto 46 points from 22 matches, equal on points with Dortmund. They will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to face Stuttgart.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen