Bayern reclaim top spot

FC Bayern beat Hertha Berlin 2-0 on Sunday to reclaim top spot in the Bundesliga. Munich were dominant throughout but had to wait for almost 70 minutes until Serge Gnabry broke the deadlock. Kingsley Coman doubled the lead with ten minutes to go as Bayern sealed three crucial points that sent them back to the summit.

The German record champions started with Yann Sommer in goal and Noussair Mazraoui, Benjamin Pavard, Matthijs de Ligt and João Cancelo in a back four. Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka anchored a midfield featuring Coman, Jamal Musiala and Gnabry, with Sadio Mané up front. Leroy Sané came on for Goretzka at half-time, with Ryan Gravenberch, Thomas Müller, Josip Stanišić and Mathys Tel taking over from Musiala, Mané, Mazraoui and Coman in the second half.

Goalless first half

Bayern were in the driving seat from the off, with Cancelo drawing a save from keeper Oliver Christensen in the first minute. Mazraoui saw an effort blocked but Hertha soon got a grip, with clear-cut chances few and far between.

Lukebakio was crowded out twice at the other end and two crosses only just evaded Mané before Coman had a shout for a penalty waved away after going down in the box. Munich upped the ante before half-time, with Pavard firing just over and Christensen making two fine saves against Coman and Gnabry. Mané miscued a header as it remained level at the break.

Serge and King seal it

Proceedings were similar after the restart, Mané and de Ligt heading over the bar as Bayern forced a string of corners. Pavard had a shot blocked, de Ligt miscued another header and Sané put a free-kick wide.

Bayern's dominance was rewarded when Kimmich clipped the ball over the defence for Gnabry to ghost between defenders and beat Christensen with a diving header. The goal opened things up, and Cancelo saw a shot deflected wide before Christensen denied Coman, but the Frenchman doubled the lead when he controlled Kimmich's pinpoint reverse pass over the backline and slotted home. Sommer made his sole save of the game to deny Lucas Tousart before Christensen saved from Sané and Gravenberch.

The victory takes Bayern onto 62 points with four matches to go, one clear of Borussia Dortmund, who drew against Bochum on Friday. FCB will be back in action next Saturday when they travel to face Werder Bremen.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen