Treble-chasing Bayern thrash Gladbach

SANDRO WAGNER netted twice as treble-chasing Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich ran riot in a 5-1 win at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach yesterday.

After securing a sixth straight German league title last weekend and booking a Champions League semifinal place in midweek, this was another dominant display from Bayern, who have a German Cup semifinal at Leverkusen tomorrow.

Wagner, the back-up at Bayern for star striker Robert Lewandowski who was on the bench, has scored seven goals in his last eight games.

“I’m having fun, I’m in the form of my life and assume I’ll be at the World Cup this summer,” said Wagner.

Gladbach, who beat Bayern 2-1 at Borussia Park last November, silenced the crowd when Josip Drmic cut inside defender Niklas Suele to fire home with nine minutes gone.

However, Wagner tapped home the equaliser after good work from Thomas Muller on 37 minutes, then added a second with a superb header four minutes later.

Bayern increased their lead on 51 minutes as Thiago Alcantara drilled home the rebound after Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer blocked an attempt from Wagner.

Gladbach had appeals for a penalty turned down when Juan Bernat brought down Denis Zakaria in the area.

Leftback David Alaba, returning from a back injury, scored Bayern’s fourth from outside the area on 67 minutes with a fierce shot off his right foot.

Not to be outdone Lewandowski, sporting a black eye from Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Sevilla, came on for Wagner to score Bayern’s fifth, his 36th goal this season.

Niko Kovac insisted Eintracht Frankfurt won’t use his appointment as Bayern coach for next season as an excuse for their 4-1 thrashing at Bayer Leverkusen.

Frankfurt’s plans for next season were thrown into chaos on Friday when Bayern confirmed Kovac, 46, will join them to replace Heynckes as coach in 2018/19.

“Trainers and players come and go, my team will not use this as an excuse,” said Kovac.

“Everyone is professional enough, because we know we can achieve a European place next year – I am convinced of that.”

However, the performance at the BayArena did not back up Kovac’s words as Frankfurt’s Champions League hopes suffered a heavy blow.

This was the first time this season Frankfurt have conceded four goals.

Germany hopeful Kevin Volland boosted his chances of making Joachim Low’s World Cup squad, to be named on May 15, with a hattrick for Leverkusen.

The thrashing left Frankfurt sixth, five points from fourthplaced Leverkusen – and a Champions League place – with four games left. – AFP