Reigning Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich beat bottom team Cottbus 4-1 on Saturday, keeping alive their hopes of leading the championship into the winter break.
In face of 69,000 audience at the Allianz Arena, Ervin Skela gave Cottbus an unexpected lead after 25 minutes, but Bayern dictated play from the start.
French international Franck Ribery, Martin Demichelis, Miroslav Klose and Italian striker Luca Toni scored four goals to seal the sweep victory.
Despite scoring four, they missed more chances than they converted. They also had a 14th minute goal disallowed for offside.
After 25 minutes with little to offer, Cottbus strayed close to the Bayern penalty area and won a free kick.
Skrela lofted the ball into the penalty area. Massimo Odo leapt up without touching the ball which beat keeper Michael Rensing - 0-1.
Just four minutes later, Bayern were back on level terms after a dream free kick from Franck Ribery which soared into the top left corner from 20 meters out.
When Cottbus keeper Gerhard Tremmel delayed coming out of his goal, Demichelis was able to nod home a cross from Oddo to put Bayern ahead.
After the interval, a one-two with Phillipp Lahm set Ribery free to send in a perfect cross which gave Miroslav Klose his fifth goal of the season.
Bayern continued to press - above all Toni - and it was his speedy reaction just five meters out after a corner from Oddo that gave Bayern a deserved fourth goal.
With 28 points in hand, Bayern remain third in the Bundesliga standings on 28 points from 14 games, but are now level on points with second-placed Lever kusen and just three points off leaders Hoffenheim.
Source: Xinhua
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