Lewandowski double sink Union Berlin in seven-goal thriller

Bayern Munich gave the best possible response to their humiliating exit from the German Cup in midweek, as they swept aside Union Berlin, rubber-stamping their superiority at the top of the Bundesliga.

The away side came into the contest looking to immediately bounce back from their heaviest defeat since 1978, and started in lively fashion as Robert Lewandowski fired home his 11th league goal of the season from the penalty spot, after a strike from Leroy Sané was harshly adjudged to have struck an arm in the box.

Having scored a record-breaking 33 goals in their opening nine league matches, Bayern continued to assert their authority on proceedings, and doubled their lead eight minutes later with a piece of brilliance. 

A well-worked free-kick routine on the edge of the box found Lewandowski, and the Polish marksman clinically dispatched the ball into the top corner, leaving Andreas Luthe in the Union Berlin goal helpless.

The home keeper was soon picking the ball out of his net for a third time, the impressive Sané tapping in after excellent work from Thomas Müller and Kingsley Coman.

Despite the first-half onslaught from the visitors, Union Berlin gave themselves a glimmer of hope on the stroke of HT, when Niko Gießelmann found some space inside the box and powered a strike beyond Manuel Neuer. 

Undeterred by the setback, Bayern continued to dominate possession in the opening exchanges of the second half, and restored their three-goal advantage on the hour mark thanks to a sensational run and finish from Coman.

The 'Iron Ones’ refused to buckle, and again demonstrated their steel, responding four minutes later as substitute Julian Ryerson reduced the arrears with his first touch. However, there wasn’t to be a late comeback, as Müller made sure of the points for the league-leaders slotting home from the edge of the box to cap a ruthless attacking display.