Title in sight as Bayern beat Bielefeld

Bielefeld 0-3 Bayern
Goals: 0-1 Laursen (o.g. 10’) 0-2 Gnabry 45’ (assist: Kimmich), 0-3 Musiala (assist: Lewandowski)

Bielefeld began the afternoon the brightest. Wolfsburg-bound Patrick Wimmer pressed with dynamism to create an opportunity only to drag his shot just wide of the post. Moments later, Stefan Ortega somehow managed to beat away an effort from Robert Lewandowski with the hosts showing early confidence that they could bear Bayern’s onslaught. But optimism soon turned to disappointment as Joshua Kimmich found Alphonso Davies, with the Canadian nodding the ball into the path of Lewandowski – only to see Jacob Laursen bundle it past Ortega before the Polish captain. Masaya Okugawa kept the pressure on for Bielefeld but it was Bayern who doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time, another delicious ball from Kimmich finding Serge Gnabry to sidefoot a volley into the net.

Bayern maintained a high level of intensity throughout the second half. Davies had an effort miss slightly, while Lewandowski posed constant danger for the opposing defenders. Ortega expertly kept out a close-range effort from Musiala, but the Germany international followed up with a goal minutes later. The ball found the path of Lewandowski, who picked a pass through the legs of a Bielefeld defender for Musiala to tuck away his fourth goal of the season and round out a victory victory that restores the nine-point gap over Dortmund ahead of Der Klassiker next week.

• Musiala scored his 10th goal in the Bundesliga for Bayern, but his first in 2022.
• Bielefeld have just won two of their 15 home games this term, but have also only lost five.
• Manuel Neuer is now level with Mark Flekken and Robin Zentner for the most clean sheets in the season (10).
• Thomas Müller still leads the league for assists with 16, but hasn’t set up a goal in six appearances.
• With only one point in their last seven games, Bielefeld are currently the most off-form team in the Bundesliga.
• Kimmich now has 10 assists this term, while Gnabry has equalled his best ever single-season scoring record of 12 in the Bundesliga.

Watch: Davies: "We can't lose our focus"

Bielefeld: Ortega – Ramos, Pieper, Nilsson – Wimmer, Schöpf (Castro 74’), Prietl (c), Kunze (Vasiliadis 45’+4), Laursen (Bello 39') – Serra (Hack 74’), Okugawa
Uused subs: Kapino, Bello, de Medina, Andrade, Ince, Cherny
Out: Brunner (concussion), Klos (fractured skull), Krüger (knock)
Coach: Frank Kramer

Bayern: Neuer (c) - Pavard, Upamecano, Nianzou (Stanisic 46’), Davies - Kimmich, Goretzka – Sabitzer (Sane 61’), Müller (Musiala 61’), Gnabry (Vidovic 89’) – Lewandowski (Choupo-Moting 89’)
Unused subs: Ulreich, O. Richards, Roca, Tillman
Out: Süle (not included), Tolisso (hamstring), Coman (muscular), Hernandez (muscular)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

Watch: Gnabry: "We want to become champions at home next week"