Two goals in each half from Bayern Munich saw them thump Schalke 4-0 in a Bundesliga match at the Veltins-Arena on Saturday.
The result sees them draw level with Borussia Dortmund on points at the top of the table, but Dortmund still stop the standings despite the team’s goal difference being the same but having scored more goals.
It was a commanding first half performance from Bayern as they dictated the flow of play and controlled the possession stakes.
Still, they suffered an early scare as Kevin-Prince Boateng picked up a loose pass from Philipp Lahm and proceeded to drive towards goal before firing a shot from just outside the box which was well-saved by Manuel Neuer in the fourth minute.
After that, however, it was all Bayern and David Alaba was the first to threaten the Schalke goal when he curled a 22-yard free-kick narrowly wide of the target in the eight minute.
Bayern continued to press forward and finally made their pressure tell in the 21st minute when Bastian Schweinsteiger powered home an Arjen Robben corner-kick with a strong header, 1-0.
A minute later and Bayern confirmed their dominance as Mario Mandzukic doubled their lead after meeting a pin-point cross from Alaba with a clinical header, 2-0.
Five minutes before the break Mandzukic nearly found his second goal as his 25-yard half volley sailed inches wide of the target.
The second 45 saw Bayern continued in the same vein and they found their third goal in the 75th minute as some good build-up play resulted in Franck Ribery tucking home an Alaba cross, 3-0.
Claudio Pizarro put the icing on the cake for Bayern with their fourth goal six minutes from time slotting the ball into an empty net after Thomas Muller drew the keeper off his line before passing to an unmarked Pizarro, 4-0.
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