Bayern’s Gnabry hits hattrick

SERGE GNABRY scored a hattrick as Bayern Munich moved four points clear at the top of the Bundesliga with a dominant 6-1 win against Werder Bremen yesterday. Bayern’s win ensured they will finish the midweek round of matches in top spot.

The win initially appeared to be bittersweet for the Bavarians, with Senegal forward Sadio Mane substituted early in the match with an apparent leg injury.

Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said the extent of the injury was unclear.

“He copped a knock on his kneecap,” he told Sky. “We hope it isn’t too bad but we don’t know too much yet.”

With goals from Jamal Musiala and Leon Goretzka alongside two from Gnabry, Bayern led 4-1 after just 28 minutes, before taking their foot off the pedal against an outclassed Bremen.

In the dying stages, Bayern again turned up the heat, with Gnabry scoring his third on 82 minutes and French teenager Mathys Tel adding another with five minutes remaining.

“The first half started brilliantly… (It) was very spectacular. There could have been even more goals,” said Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich.

Earlier, goals from defender Micky van de Ven and Germany hopeful Lukas Nmecha helped Wolfsburg end Borussia Dortmund’s three-match Bundesliga winning streak with a 2-0 victory. Dortmund slipped six points behind Bayern in fourth place.

Stuttgart defender Konstantinos Mavropanos scored a header in the eighth minute of injury time to give his team a 21 home win over Hertha Berlin.

Elsewhere, Bochum won their third home game in a row, defeating Borussia Monchengladbach 2-1.