BERLIN: Bundesliga top-scorer Robert Lewandowski took his tally to 24 goals this season as Bayern Munich avenged their only defeat of 2020 with a 4-1 win over Hoffenheim on Saturday.

Bayern were beaten by Hoffenheim, also 4-1, for their only loss across all competitions last year and were in no mood for a repeat despite the absences of midfielders Leon Goretzka and Javi Martinez due to coronavirus infections.

New signing Marc Roca made a rare start as the Bavarian powerhouses and league leaders stretched their winning run to four games following the rare losses to Borussia Moenchengladbach and Holstein Kiel in the league and cup, respectively, in January.

Jerome Boateng opened the scoring with a header off Joshua Kimmich’s corner in the 32nd before Lewandowski set up Thomas Mueller in the 43rd.

Andrej Kramaric pulled one back a minute later for Hoffenheim, but Lewandowski scored for the ninth consecutive game in the 57th, and Serge Gnabry made sure with Bayern’s fourth in the 63rd.

“It wasn’t all top but we played a good game,” said Bayern coach Hansi Flick, whose team stayed seven points clear of RB Leipzig.

Christopher Nkunku’s 51st-minute strike was enough for Leipzig to consolidate second place with a 1-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the late game.

Peter Bosz’s Leverkusen dropped to fourth after a third defeat in the last fortnight.

Eintracht Frankfurt replaced them in third as Portugal striker Andre Silva scored twice, taking his tally this season to 16 league goals, in a 3-1 home win over Hertha Berlin.

After three matches without a win, Borussia Dortmund climbed to fifth with a 3-1 home victory over Augsburg as England winger Jadon Sancho notched his third goal of the new year.

Gladbach became the latest big name to struggle at Union Berlin after being held to a 1-1 draw.

Leverkusen and Dortmund have already lost in eastern Berlin this season and Gladbach needed an Alassane Plea equaliser to get the point which leaves them seventh.

Schalke 04 remained rooted to the bottom, now nine points from escaping the relegation places, after a 1-1 draw at Werder Bremen.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2021