Bayern’s winning run at home in the Bundesliga now extends to five games after the champions dismissed strugglers St. Pauli 3-0 on Saturday, although the game was not settled until relatively late on following an eventful afternoon with a sending-off, a penalty and a clutch of shots off the woodwork.
The 69,000 full house at the Allianz Arena saw Hamit Altintop blast the home side into a 16th-minute lead, but the first half was essentially an evenly-matched affair as the lively visitors gave as good as they got. Thomas Müller hit the outside of the post as Bayern looked to settle it after the break, and Philipp Lahm doubled the lead from the penalty spot with 20 minutes left, Pauli keeper Thomas Kessler receiving his marching orders for the foul leading to the award. Franck Ribery netted his first league goal of term on 79 minutes as the champions coasted to the finish.
A seventh league victory of the campaign sees Louis van Gaal’s side move up two places in the Bundesliga standings to fifth on 26 points from 16 matches. The final fixture before the mid-season break is next Sunday away to Stuttgart, before FCB round off an eventful 2010 on the same ground against the same opponents in the cup the following Wednesday.
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