MUNICH: Bayern Munich struck three times in a punishing first half to ease past Union Berlin 3-0 on Sunday to confirm their status as title favourites and leave the Berliners, following their first league loss of the year, three points behind.

Bayern successfully bounced back from last week’s loss to Borussia Moenchengladbach, delivering a supreme first half performance that kept them in first place on 46 points, ahead of Borussia Dortmund on goal difference. Union are third on 43.

Goals from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Kingsley Coman and Jamal Musiala, on his 20th birthday, put Bayern into a comfortable position against the overachieving Berliners.

In another positive for Bayern, the champions welcomed back Sadio Mane who came on as a substitute after an injury absence of nearly four months.

Bayern, who host Paris St Germain on March 8 for their Champions League last 16 return leg, delivered punch after punch in a fierce start, giving their opponents no chance to chance.

Striker Choupo-Moting got the home side on the scoreboard after 31 minutes, heading in a lofted pass from Kingsley Coman. Coman then turned scorer, rounding the keeper to slot in their second before Musiala turned in a Mueller cutback in stoppage time to kill off the game after 45 minutes.

Bayern manager Julian Nagelsmann said the “style and manner” of the victory pleased him more than just claiming the three points. “As I’ve said before, today won’t decide the championship, but the style and manner we did in was good.”

In Sunday’s other match, Freiburg drew 1-1 with Bayer Leverkusen to drop to fifth place on 41 points.

A goal from free-kick specialist Vincenzo Grifo had put Freiburg into a first-half lead and on course for a valuable three points in their top-four bid but a second-half goal from Iran striker Sardar Azmoun meant the honours were shared.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2023