Bayern tune up for Real with victory

Leipzig crash to home loss by Hoffenheim

BERLIN, April 21, (AFP): Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich warmed up for Real Madrid with a 3-0 win at Hanover 96 on Saturday as Thomas Mueller and Robert Lewandowski both scored after coming off the bench.

Mueller struck within 12 minutes of his half-time introduction before Lewandowski doubled the lead and Sebastian Rudy added a third after coach Jupp Heynckes started a weakened team.

With one eye on Wednesday’s blockbuster Champions League semi-final first leg at home to Real, Heynckes left out several regulars while handing 18-year-old centre-back Lars Lukas Mai his Bundesliga debut. Arjen Robben captained the side with Thiago Alcantara, James Rodriguez and Jerome Boateng the only other outfield players in Saturday’s line-up likely to start against Real.

Both sides had their chances in a goalless first half before Bayern pulled away after Mueller replaced Robben, the Germany international striking on 57 minutes when his first-time shot from a Juan Bernat cross deflected off Salif Sane and past goalkeeper Philipp Tschauner.

Bayern’s top scorer Lewandowski added a second just six minutes after coming on himself.

Rudy swung in a corner and the Polish forward headed home to score for the 38th time this season in all competitions.

Hannover’s Miiko Albornoz (left), and Pirmin Schwegler (right), and Munich’s Sebastian Rudy challenge for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer

match between Hannover 96 and Bayern Munich in Hannover, Germany on April 21. (AP)