Bayern win away to Augsburg, Dortmund back in relegation zone

Bayern win 4-0 away to Augsburg - © Stefan Puchner, dpa

Berlin (dpa) - Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich were made to work hard before eventually cruising to a 4-0 victory away to Augsburg Saturday while Borussia Dortmund lost 1-0 at Hertha Berlin to slip back into the bottom three.

Augsburg, who ended Bayern's record 53-game unbeaten
run in the league last season, battled hard before eventually succumbing to second half goals from Medhi Benatia, Arjen Robben and Robert Lewandowski.

Moroccan Benatia headed home the opener from a free kick in the 58th minute before Robben, just three minutes later, curled home a superb shot via the far post. Lewandowski and Robben then added further goals for Bayern, who now lead the table by 10 points from Wolfsburg, who host Paderborn Sunday.

"Congratulations to my team, it's never easy after a Champions League game," coach Pep Guardiola said. "I'm proud of the boys.

"Being top at Christmas means we have won a lot of games but not much more," he added in reference to the fact Bayern were guaranteed to lead the table at the half-way stage.

In the capital, Hertha Berlin had Julian Schieber's goal to thank for victory over his former club Borussia Dortmund. Juergen Klopp's side fall to 16th as Freiburg's goalless draw at home to SV Hamburg lifted them up one place.

In the other matches Hanover drew 3-3 away to Werder Bremen, Cologne claimed a 2-1 victory at Schalke and Mainz drew 1-1 at home to VfB Stuttgart in the late game.

Bayern Munich endured a frustrating first hour against Augsburg as home keeper Alex Manninger made a string of fine saves to deny Franck Ribery, Xabi Alonso and Robben.

But when Benatia rose highest in the box to glance home Ribery's free-kick, Bayern had made the crucial breakthrough and never looked back.

Just three minutes later Robben was given too much space on the edge of the box and he found the net with a curling shot off the post which left Manninger helpless.

Augsburg began to tire in the last 20 minutes and further strikes from Lewandowski and Robben added a slightly harsh reflection to the scoreline.

"We have said at half time that there must be more to come," Robben said.

In Berlin Dortmund's mini-revival came shuddering to a halt as they produced a poor performance against Hertha. Jakub Blaszczykowski lost the ball too easily in midfield in the 40th minute and Schieber scored the only goal of the contest having turned Sebastian Kehl and keeper Mitchell Langerak inside out.

Langerak made a brilliant save to prevent Roy Beerens from doubling the lead but Dortmund rarely found their rhythm going forward, with only Ciro Immobile seriously troubling keeper Thomas Kraft.

The Italian international had a powerful volley and looping header well saved but sent a completely free header wide from close range when he should have scored.

"Such a first half cannot come from us," Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp said. "We had too little sense of purpose, which in a game which is about so much, is completely wrong.

"We now have two more games before the winter break to dramatically improve our situation for the second half of the season. That is the task now."

Hertha's victory lifts them to 13th but Dortmund return to the bottom three as they have fallen behind Freiburg, who drew 0-0 with Hamburg.

Freiburg missed a first minute penalty through Vladimir Darida in that match but also had a second half let-off as Nicolai Mueller struck the bar.

Schalke missed the chance to go third, at least temporarily, with a flat display at home to Cologne just three days after qualifying for the Champions League knock-out phase.

"The third game in seven days is always the hardest," coach Roberto Di Matteo said. "Our creating of chances today was not so good.

"Unfortunately we have made mistakes in the second half which led to the goals being conceded. Afterwards we were perhaps lacking an edge."

Goals from Anthony Ujah and a penalty from Matthias Lehmann gave Cologne the win, despite Leroy Sane's late consolation, which lifted them to 10th.

In the other match goals from Zlatko Junuzovic and debutant Melvyn Lorenzen put Werder Bremen 2-1 up at home to Hanover by cancelling Lars Stindl's opener but the guests fought back.

A quick-fire double from Joselu in the 62nd and 64th minutes turned the contest in Hanover's favour only for Davie Selke's last gasp goal to rescue a point for Bremen.

Later Saturday Mainz went in front against bottom club Stuttgart thanks to a first half free kick from Johannes Geis but substitute Filip Kostic rescued a point for the guests with a 72nd minute equalizer.

Bayer Leverkusen face Borussia Moenchengladbach in the other Sunday game.