WOLFSBURG: Bayern Munich scored three times in a stellar 10-minute spell in the first half to battle past hosts VfL Wolfsburg 4-2 on Sunday, ending their three-game winless run in the league and reclaiming the top spot.

Bayern, who face Paris St Germain in nine days in the Champions League last 16, were desperate for a win and they got it with two goals from King­sley Coman even though they were made to sweat in the second half as the Wolves twice cut the deficit.

Bayern played the majority of the second half with 10 men after midfielder Joshua Kimmich picked up a second yellow card and the win was marred by a late VAR decision to chalk off a Wolfs­burg goal, which would have made the score 4-3 with seven minutes plus stoppage time remaining.

Bayern struck in the ninth minute through France forward Coman, whose curling cross evaded a leaping Thomas Mueller but drifted past goalkeeper Koen Casteels and into the net.

Coman added another just five minutes later, hammering a floating Joao Cancelo ball past a helpless Casteels.

Bayern made it 3-0 five minutes later through Mueller, who equalled the late Gerd Mueller’s all-time club record for an infield player with his 427th Bundesliga game.

They then took their foot of the gas and were punished for their complacency a minute before the break when Jakub Kaminski caught the visitors’ mercurial defence napping with a quick one-two and a fine finish.

Things got even worse after the break with Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich sent off with a second booking for the first time in his Bundesliga career before Jamal Musiala briefly settled their nerves with a superb solo effort in the 73rd.

Mattias Svanberg cut the deficit once more eight minutes later but the visitors held on for a win to move up to 40 points, one above second-placed Union Berlin. Borussia Dortmund are third on 37.

Earlier on Sunday, goals from Jens Stage and Marvin Ducksch carried Werder Bremen to a 2-0 away win that left VfB Stuttgart in the relegation play-off spot. The win, Bremen’s second in a row, sent the promoted side up to eighth, just two spots from the European placings.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2023