GELSENKIRCHEN: Champions Bayern Munich opened up a seven-point gap at the top of the Bundesliga after dishing out a 4-0 thrashing at bottom club Schalke 04 helped by a Thomas Mueller double on Sunday.

Mueller scored with two headers, starting the scoring after 33 minutes and netting again in the 88th after league top scorer Robert Lewandowski bagged his 23rd of the campaign in the 54th.

David Alaba’s long-range effort in the 90th minute capped a comfortable evening for the Bavarians.

With title rivals RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund all losing this weekend, Bayern remain firmly on course for a ninth consecutive Bundesliga title. “We have had a few big points this week — even when we don’t overrun the opposition,” Mueller told Sky.

After 18 games, the Munich side have 42 points with second-placed Leipzig on 35. Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg both have 32.

Schalke, struggling to avoid relegation, had the stronger start with a string of chances and Mark Uth missed the best of them with a header from seven metres.

Bayern needed about 20 minutes to find their way into the game and gradually took control, going in front when Joshua Kimmich floated a cross into the box and Mueller scored with a darting header.

Lewandowski then latched onto another superb Kimmich assist to slot the ball home, setting a league record by scoring in an eighth consecutive away game. He also became the first player to score in 11 consecutive games against the same team.

The Royal Blues, anchored in last place on seven points, refused to give up and had opportunities before Bayern scored twice through Mueller and Alaba in the final four minutes.

In the day’s other game, Andrej Kramaric scored twice for the second game in a row as Hoffenheim comfortably beat Cologne 3-0 to move up two places to 11th. Cologne are 16th and in the relegation playoff spot.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2021