5-star Bayern claim victory at Union Berlin

FC Bayern beat Union Berlin 5-1 in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Leon Goretzka and Harry Kane scored for Bayern in the first half, with Thomas Müller closing out the meeting after the restart. Mathys Tel and again Müller added gloss to the scoreline before Yorbe Vertessen got a consolation goal for the home side in the closing stages.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Joshua Kimmich, Eric Dier, Minjae Kim and Alphonso Davies in defence. Aleksandar Pavlović and Goretzka anchored a midfield featuring Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Müller and Tel, with Kane up front. Dayot Upamecano, Noussair Mazraoui, Konrad Laimer, Bryan and Lovro Zvonarek took over from Minjae, Kimmich, Goretzka, Choupo-Moting and Müller in the second half.

Reds clinical in first half

The pattern of the match was soon established with Munich in control of the ball and the home side sitting deep. Kane saw a shot saved before Choupo-Moting fired wide and miscued a header, but clear-cut chances were few and far between at first, with Bayern solid at the back.

Munich took the lead when Tel's pass found Goretzka, who smashed in via the underside of the crossbar. Union did have their moments, with Neuer saving from Lucas Tousart and Robin Gosens, but Bayern made it two when Pavlović was upended outside the box. Kimmich left the ball and caused the wall to split with his run as Kane picked out the near corner on the stroke of half-time.

Müller brace

Bayern put the game to bed early in the second half, Choupo-Moting's cross finding Müller, who volleyed home at the far post. The visitors kept up the pressure and Goretzka soon won the ball in midfield to play in Kane, who invited Tel to slot home.

Müller rounded off his brace after the hour, heading Goretzka's pinpoint cross beyond Frederik Rønnow. Kane had an effort saved before Neuer denied Mikkel Kaufmann at the other end, and Vertessen's late goal was little more then a footnote.

The result means Bayern have 66 points from 30 matches, three clear of VfB Stuttgart, who take on Werder Bremen on Sunday. The Bavarians will be back in action next Saturday, when they entertain Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen