Gnabry bags hat-trick as Bayern crush Werder to claim ninth successive win
Serge Gnabry scored a hat-trick as Bayern Munich rolled over Werder Bremen at Allianz Arena.
| Photo: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0 |
It started according to plan for the German record champions, who had won their last eight games in all competitions prior to tonight's match. After a shot from Sadio Mané was blocked, the rebound fell to Jamal Musiala, who did a fake shot before slotting home with his left foot to give Bayern the lead six minutes into the game.
However, Werder were quick to respond and found the equaliser four minutes later through Anthony Jung. The guests played out of pressure on the right and got the ball to the left-back, who arrived in the box to score with a left-footed finish.
But Bayern were by far the dominant force in the game and received a golden chance to take the lead again when they were awarded a penalty in the 18th minute. Since Sadio Mané had just picked up a knock, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting stepped up to take the penalty, but the in-form striker saw his effort saved by Jiri Pavlenka.
Choupo-Moting's penalty miss wasn't too much of a problem for Bayern, though, as they managed to score three goals between the 22nd and 28th minute.
Serge Gnabry restored the lead with a curler, which was followed up a goal from Leon Goretzka, who stormed into the box and fired the ball past Pavlenka after receiving a pass from Joshua Kimmich.
Leroy Sané, who had replaced the injured Mané, then set up Serge Gnabry's second goal of the evening after the duo were played in behind Bremen's high defensive line.
Bayern continued on cruise control after the break and came closing to increasing their lead further in the 55th minute when Leroy Sané hit the post.
Second-half substitutes Kingsley Coman and Mathys Tel also threatened before Serge Gnabry sealed his hat-trick.
Tel then closed the show, smashing the ball past Pavlenka to make it 6-1 and round off an excellent evening for the German champions.
The win sees Bayern move four points clear of Freiburg, who play RB Leipzig tomorrow, at the top of the table. Werder sit seventh.