Thomas Müller, Robert Lewandowski, Thiago and Ivan Perisic goals fire Bayern Munich past Jürgen Klinsmann's Hertha Berlin
Bayern Munich moved up to second in the standings after brushing aside former coach Jürgen Klinsmann's Hertha Berlin, thanks to second-half goals from Thomas Müller, Robert Lewandowski, Thiago and Ivan Perisic.
Hertha Berlin 0-4 Bayern Munich
Goals: 0-1 Müller (60'), 0-2 Lewandowski (pen. 75'), 0-3 Thiago (76'), 0-4 Perisic (84')
Bayern were seven points behind leaders RB Leipzig at the start of play, while Hertha had a four-match unbeaten streak to defend. The Old Lady underlined their marked improvement on Klinsmann’s watch with a composed first-half showing, in which Davie Selke failed to head a promising opening on target. The former Germany youth international was almost made to pay following a sensational interchange between Perisic and Lewandowski, but Bayern’s 19-goal top scorer couldn’t wrap his foot around the chance and, with Rune Jarstein closing the angle, poked wide.
Perisic was heavily involved again after the restart, the Inter Milan loanee seeing a goal-bound header hacked off the line by Dedryck Boyata. He turned provider moments later, nodding down Leon Goretzka’s cross into the path of Müller, who made no mistake on the volley. The switch flicked, Lewandowski had a goal ruled out, tested Jarstein and converted a penalty following a foul on Goretzka in the space of five blistering minutes. Thiago started and finished a brilliant move with aplomb 60 seconds later, before Perisic turned in Müller’s cross with six minutes remaining. Manuel Neuer had been untested, but made himself big to thwart Pascal Köpke late in a perfect day for the defending champions.
Match stats
- Bayern ended Hertha's four-match unbeaten run, and mini streak of three straight clean sheets.
- For the first time in Bundesliga history, two players - Lewandowski and Timo Werner - are on 20 goals after 18 matchdays.
- Müller scored his third Bundesliga goal of the season, but third away from home. He took his assist tally to a league-leading 12.
- Thiago scored for the first time in almost a year.
- Perisic scored his first goal in five attempts against Hertha.
- Santiago Ascacibar made his Bundesliga debut as a Hertha player. He is the second Argentine to play for the capital club, after Leandro Cufre (2009).
Watch: Thiago: “When we play like this we always win”
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Line-ups
Hertha: Jarstein – Klünter, Boyata, Torunarigha, Plattenhardt (c) – Asacibar – Lukebakio (Köpke 82'), Darida (Wolf 68'), Grujic, Dilrosun (Mittelstädt 82') – Selke
Unused subs: Kraft, Pekarik, Skjelbred, Rekik, Esswein, Ibisevic
Out: Maier (knee)
Coach: Jürgen Klinsmann
Bayern: Neuer (c) – Pavard, Boateng, Alaba, Davies (Dajaku 78') – Goretzka, Thiago – Müller (Gnabry 87'), Coutinho (Cuisance 83'), Perisic – Lewandowski
Unused subs: Ulreich, Tolisso, Mai, Zirkzee
Out: Coman (knee), Hernandez (ankle), Kimmich (suspended), Martinez (thigh), Singh (suspended), Süle (torn ACL)
Coach: Hansi Flick
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