Bayern Munich hit six to cruise past Augsburg

Matthias Hangst/Bongarts/Getty Images

---

Bayern Munich's seemingly unstoppable march towards a fifth consecutive Bundesliga title continued as they swatted aside struggling Augsburg 6-0 at the Allianz Arena.

Robert Lewandowski continued his red-hot form with a superb hat-trick and added two assists for good measure, Thomas Muller scored in either half while Thiago Alcantara was also on target in Bayern's fifth successive league win.

They retained a 13-point cushion over second-placed Leipzig with eight games of the season remaining but the evidence here suggests they are not taking anything for granted.

Carlo Ancelotti urged his star-studded side to focus on the task at hand and ignore any urge to instead look ahead to the mouthwatering Champions League tie against Real Madrid later this month.

The Bavarian derby against Augsburg was the first of three league ties between now and the opening leg against the LaLiga giants on April 12, and Ancelotti's advice seemed to be taken aboard in a remarkable display.

Manuel Neuer was among the absentees for the hosts - also without the injured Douglas Costa and the suspended Xabi Alonso and Javi Martinez - having undergone a toe operation earlier this week.

It was the first time the German goalkeeper had missed a league game since April 2015 but his replacement Sven Ulreich was a virtual bystander as Bayern were on the front foot from the off.

Lewandowski came into the encounter with 13 goals in his previous 11 appearances against Augsburg and it only took him 17 minutes to add to his tally, taking a touch following Thiago's through ball into the area before firing into the top corner.

The Pole turned provider in the 36th minute, squaring the ball to give an easy tap-in for Muller, who made it third time lucky having earlier seen two strikes hit the post.

There looked to be no way back for the visitors once they fell three down in the 55th minute and it was once again Lewandowski who was their scourge.

Franck Ribery was the architect with a defence-splitting pass into the path of Lewandowski and the 28-year-old shrugged off the challenge of Kevin Danso before slotting home.

Thiago got in on the act seven minutes later, starting and finishing a flowing move that had Augsburg defenders all at sea.

Lewandowski, who had had a hand in all four goals, then completed his hat-trick in the 79th minute, reacting quickest to put away the loose ball after Marwin Hitz had kept out Muller's header.

It was the prolific forward's 12th goal from his last six games but Bayern were still not sated and Muller completed the rout a minute later, twisting and turning in the area before thumping past Hitz.

Augsburg's miserable afternoon was compounded by Hamburg's last-minute victory over Cologne, meaning they dropped into the bottom three - albeit they are level on points with Wolfsburg and Mainz.