Bayern put one hand on Bundesliga title after 6-0 win

BERLIN (AP):

Bayern Munich all but secured an unprecedented sixth consecutive Bundesliga title after routing Borussia Dortmund 6-0 yesterday.

Bayern can wrap up the title and extend their league titles record with a win at Bavarian rival Augsburg next Saturday.

"Especially in the first half, we showed a gala performance," coach Jupp Heynckes said after Bayern inflicted Dortmund with their biggest league defeat in 27 years.

"We played football with such ease and had a very good positional game. We made our playing and technical superiority count."

Robert Lewandowski kicked off a hat-trick against his former side in the fifth minute after Thomas Mueller was left in plenty of space to play him through. Though the Poland striker looked offside, there was no intervention from the video referee.

Franck Ribery's goal four minutes later was ruled out through VAR after James Rodriguez got a touch to the ball. Again, it was a marginal call.

TEARING DORTMUND APART

But Bayern were tearing Dortmund apart, and James scored the side's second in the 14th, again with a suspicion of offside.

Dortmund midfielder Gonzalo Castro then lost the ball to James, who surged forward and floated in a perfect cross for Thomas Mueller to score.

Lewandowski's boot-tip provided the fourth after good work from Ribery, who followed up two minutes later with Bayern's fifth before the break, again set up by James.

The halftime scoreline was in no way flattering to Bayern. Manuel Akanji provided the only highlight for Dortmund with a last-ditch tackle on the otherwise-free Lewandowski, while Andre Schuerrle epitomised the visitors' game when his attempted pass went straight out of play.

Mario Goetze struck the post with Dortmund's first real chance midway through the second half, but by then, Bayern was already thinking of Tuesday's Champions League quarterfinal first leg at Sevilla.

Heynckes took off the excellent James and Ribery to ovations with over 20 minutes remaining.

Joshua Kimmich, who went on for David Alaba at the break, crossed for Lewandowski to complete his hat-trick late, improving his league-leading tally to 26.