Coutinho hat-trick as Bayern hit Bremen for six

Bayern Munich 6-1 Werder Bremen
Goals: 0-1 Rashica (24'), 1-1 Coutinho (45'), 2-1 Lewandowski (45'+4), 3-1 Coutinho (63'), 4-1 Lewandowski (72'), 5-1 Müller (75'), 6-1 Coutinho (78')

Serge Gnabry headed over and Robert Lewandowski twice tested Jiri Pavlenka in a one-sided opening, but Bremen had already exploited the defending champions' high defensive line once when Milot Rashica broke through at the second attempt. Jerome Boateng couldn't live with the pace of the Kosovo international, who capped a purposeful run with an emphatic finish from 18 yards. Rashica was denied another sight of goal soon after, before Bayern began to reassert their authority on the contest, with Pavlenka pulling off a fine double save from Lewandowski and Coutinho. Bremen's resistance was broken on the stroke of half-time when Joshua Kimmich played in Gnabry, whose back-post cross was touched in by Coutinho. The Barcelona loanee then turned provider with an audacious chipped pass for Lewandowski to slot through the legs of Pavlenka and send Bayern in at the break 2-1 up.

Lewandowski returned the favour within moments of the restart, but Pavlenka did just enough to deny Coutinho from close range. Bayern did not have to wait long for a third goal, though. Coutinho took one touch to control a pin-point ball over the top of the Bremen defence from David Alaba, before lifting a nonchalant no-look chip over the despairing Pavlenka. Leon Goretzka went close to getting in on the act with Bayern's next attack, but sent his effort narrowly over. Lewandowski put the contest to bed with his second of the night, courtesy of a telegraphed assist from substitute Thomas Müller. Coutinho unselfishly set up Müller for Bayern's fifth, before completing his hat-trick with a trademark long-range strike of the highest order. With normal service resumed following back-to-back defeats to Bayer Leverkusen and leaders Borussia Mönchengladbach, the only surprise was that Bayern - up to fourth in the table - didn't score a seventh.

• Coutinho is the second Brazilian to score a Bundesliga hat-trick for Bayern after Giovane Elber.
• Coutinho scored his fourth goal of the week, and seventh in all competitions since joining Bayern on loan in the summer.
• Bayern have claimed three points in each of their last 18 Bundesliga meetings with Bremen, which is the longest winning run by any club against another in the league's history. In all competitions it's 21 victories in a row, since a goalless draw in September 2010.
• Lewandowski ended a run of three Bundesliga games without a goal. His 17th and 18th of the season were his 219th and 220th for Bayern, taking him past Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in the club's all-time list of leading marksman, and level with Jupp Heynckes in the Bundesliga charts.
• New Zealand international Sarpreet Singh, 20, came on in the final 10 minutes to make his Bundesliga debut for Bayern.
• Rashica scored his seventh goal of the season. It's the first time Bremen have lost this term in games in which the 23-year-old has found the net, though.

Watch: Coutinho: "It was a great display"

Bayern: Neuer (c) – Pavard, Boateng (Perisic 46'), Alaba, Davies – Kimmich, Thiago – Gnabry, Goretzka (Müller 70'), Coutinho (Singh 82') – Lewandowski
Unused subs: Ulreich, Mai, Batista Meier, Zirkzee
Out: Arp (fractured wrist), Coman (knee), Cuisance (ankle), Hernandez (ankle), Martinez (suspended), Süle (torn ACL), Tolisso (thigh)
Coach: Hansi Flick

Bremen: Pavlenka – Gebre Selassie (Friedl 45'+1), Veljkovic, Groß, Augustinsson – Lang, M. Eggestein, Sahin, Klaassen (c), Osako (Bittencourt 67') - Rashica (Bartels 86')
Unused subs: Kapino, Pizarro, J. Eggestein, Goller
Out: Bargfrede (thigh), Füllkrug (torn ACL), Möhwald (knee), Moisander (knock), Sargent (torn hamstring), Toprak (calf)
Coach: Florian Kohfeldt

Watch: Flick: “The whole team was happy for Coutinho”