Bayern bounce back with Lewandowski at the double

Posted Saturday, September 16, 2017 by PA

Bayern Munich got back to winning ways in the Bundesliga after easing to a 4-0 victory over Mainz.

The defending champions suffered a surprise defeat at Hoffenheim last week but bounced back by dispatching their visitors to the Allianz Arena with minimal fuss.

Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben scored their first goals of the season in the first half while marksman Robert Lewandowski bagged a brace on his 100th Bayern appearance after the interval.

It was a commanding display from the Bavarians, who also hit the woodwork three times in claiming their second win in a week, having easily overcome Anderlecht in their Champions League opener on Tuesday.

Boss Carlo Ancelotti made five changes to the side which defeated the Belgian champions, with centre-back pairing Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels starting together for the first time in this campaign.

Muller was another to return to the starting line-up and he made an impact in the 11th minute by netting the opener.

After some neat interplay around the Mainz area, Muller found some space to receive a cutback before sweeping first time towards goal with Robben and Lewandowski appearing to avoid getting the final touch.

Mainz goalkeeper Rene Adler made a superb double save to deny Robben and then Arturo Vidal while Kingsley Coman conspired to rattle the crossbar with the goal seemingly at his mercy.

But the second goal arrived in the 23rd minute and there was no doubt this belonged to Robben, who latched onto Joshua Kimmich's through ball and lifted over a helpless Adler.

Coman stung Adler's palms with a long-range drive and continued to make life hard work for the Mainz defenders with a teasing run, but the Frenchman was unable to find Lewandowski with his final ball.

However, Lewandowski would not be denied long, timing his run to perfection to the six-yard area to put the finishing touch to Muller's cross from the right five minutes after half-time.

The one-way traffic continued and only Adler's fingertip save onto the bar denied a header from Vidal, who was withdrawn almost immediately afterwards for Sebastian Rudy.

Lewandowski celebrated his milestone appearance with another goal in the 80th minute, simply heading home at the far post from the influential Kimmich's chip for his 13th goal against Mainz in 10 appearances.

The Pole's brace may have been overshadowed had Rudy opened his Bayern account late on with a stunning 25-yard volley but the attempt crashed into the post. It mattered little, though, as the hosts had sealed victory long before then.