Created on 22-01-2011 at 00:00 AM
An Arjen Robben strike in first-half stoppage time and a Mario Gomez hat-trick after the break were the highlights as Bayern completed a minor revenge mission against Kaiserslautern, who won the reverse fixture 2-0 back in August last year but were ultimately swept away by Bayern’s individual class on Saturday afternoon.
The 69,000 capacity crowd at the Allianz Arena saw the champions largely kept in check by the disciplined visitors, until a moment of Robben magic broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time. Gomez doubled the advantage a minute after the break, and although Jan Moravek pulled one back on the hour, Gomez struck his 14th and 15th league goals of the season in the last ten minutes to banish any lingering doubts. Thomas Müller made it five with the last kick to send the crowd home in jubilant spirits.
The win means Van Gaal’s men climb to third in the standings overnight on 33 points from 19 games, now 14 points off leaders Dortmund but only one off Hannover in second. The Bavarians are next in action this Wednesday evening in a DFB Cup quarter-final tie away to Alemannia Aachen.