5-star Bayern Munich break Union to bounce back from cup shock

Robert Lewandowski struck twice as Bayern Munich set a Bundesliga scoring record on Saturday in bouncing back from their shock midweek German Cup thrashing with a 5-2 triumph at Union Berlin.

Lewandowski's early double took Bayern to 35 goals for the season, a feat unmatched by any other side after 10 games, and further strikes from Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman and Thomas Mueller confirmed victory.

Niko Giesselmann and Julian Ryerson twice reduced the deficit to two goals but Union could not salvage their superb unbeaten home record and suffered a first defeat in front of their own fans in 21 games.

Bayern looked a different side to that which crashed 5-0 at Borussia Moenchengladbach and remain top of the Bundesliga by one point from Borussia Dortmund, who won 2-0 at home to midtable Cologne.

"Everyone expected it but when everyone expects it the pressure is high," Mueller told Sky Sports. "We wanted a footballing reaction."

Freiburg, who can go level with Bayern by winning in Munich next week, strengthened their grip on third 3-1 at home to bottom side Greuther Fuerth and Mainz went fifth with a 2-1 success at second-last Arminia Bielefeld.

Wolfsburg, under new coach Florian Kohfeldt, are seventh thanks to a 2-0 victory at fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen and a last-second goal costing RB Leipzig, eighth, the win at Eintracht Frankfurt in late kick-off which ended 1-1.

Augsburg host VfB Stuttgart and Gladbach welcome Bochum on Sunday while Hoffenheim beat Hertha Berlin 2-0 on Friday.

Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann, still at home recovering from a coronavirus infection, made four changes from Wednesday's defeat with Niklas Suele, Josip Stanisic, Corentin Tolisso and Coman replacing Dayot Upamecano, Benjamin Pavard, Serge Gnabry and the injured Leon Goretzka.

"We are happy that we could show a reaction after the heavy defeat and make our boss happy," said Bayern assistant Dino Toppmoeller, who deputized on the bench once more.

There was an immediate reaction from the champions and Paul Jaeckel handling Sane's shot allowed Lewandowski to open the scoring from the spot in the 15th minute.

Just eight minutes later the lead was doubled when Lewandowski won a free-kick at the edge of the box which he converted himself for his 12th of the season.

And Sane's back-post tap-in after Mueller hooked across goal effectively settled the tie by the 35th minute.

"It was a very dominant performance in the first half hour, there could have been another goal or two," said Mueller.

Niko Giesselmann fired through keeper Manuel Neuer at his near post to cut the arrears though and only a narrow offside decision prevented Union being within one at the break.

Urs Fischer's side started the second period strongly but Coman smashed in from a tight angle just after the hour.

Substitute Ryerson scored seconds after his introduction before a slick break finished by Mueller finally ended Union's lingering hopes of a comeback.

Despite the loss, the home fans cheered the efforts of their players at full-time with the team still a strong sixth in the table.

"The club is unique. This was special," said Union goalkeeper Andreas Luthe. "The people realize you can lose at home to Bayern and life goes on. That’s what we’ll try to show."