Mueller, Lewandowski star as Bayern Munich thrashing Borussia Dortmund

Berlin: Thomas Mueller and Robert Lewandowski struck twice each to steer Bayern Munich to a 5-1 demolition of second-placed Borussia Dortmund on Sunday, which allowed the champions to open a seven-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga.

Rampant Bayern equalled their record of eight consecutive wins at the start of a season.

Germany forward Mueller opened his account in the 26th minute, latching onto a 50-metre ball from defender Jerome Boateng and he doubled the hosts` lead with a penalty nine minutes later for his eighth league goal.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang kept up his remarkable run of scoring in every one of Dortmund`s league matches this season as he slotted in from close range a minute later but his team could not stop the charging Bavarians, who had 15 shots on goal in the game.

Irrepressible Bayern forward Lewandowski killed off any hopes of a comeback with two goals early in the second half to take his tally to 12 goals in all competitions in the last 12 days alone and nine in the last three Bundesliga matches, a league record.

Boateng floated over another cross from his own half and Poland captain Lewandowski shook off both Mats Hummels and Sven Bender to score a minute after the restart.

He then slotted in 12 minutes later for his 12th league goal in the first eight matchdays, equalling the Bundesliga record set by Christian Mueller in 1964/65 and Gerd Mueller in 1968/69.

Former Dortmund team mate Mario Goetze added a fifth goal for dazzling Bayern in the 66th with the visitors having surrendered.

Bayern, who are chasing a record fourth consecutive league crown, are on 24 points, seven clear of Dortmund.

Schalke 04 missed the chance to move into second place following a 3-0 defeat by visitors Cologne earlier on Sunday, a result that ended their four-game winning streak in the Bundesliga and left them in third, a point behind Dortmund.

Frenchman Anthony Modeste latched on to a fine Leonardo Bittencourt cross and drilled in on the stroke of halftime for his sixth goal of the campaign with Schalke maintaining control of the game but with problems going past a tight defence.

With the hosts desperately looking for an equaliser and having missed several good chances, Cologne struck again in the 79th minute with Yannick Gerhardt shrugging off two markers to fire a low shot past keeper Ralf Faehrmann.

Simon Zoller made sure of the three points and Schalke`s first home defeat of the season, five minutes later, lifting Cologne to fifth place on 14 points, two behind third-placed Schalke.

Borussia Moenchengladbach scored two goals in four minutes late in the second half to stun VfL Wolfsburg 2-0 on Saturday (October 3) and make it three wins in a row under interim coach Andre Schubert after a five-game losing start to the season.

Wolfsburg, last season`s runners-up, have failed to win any of their last three league games and four matches in all competitions after their 2-1 loss at Manchester United in the Champions League.

Gladbach, who hit the post in the first half through Lars Stindl, were more aggressive throughout while a lacklustre Wolfsburg looked tired following Wednesday`s defeat in Manchester.

Things did not improve for the Wolves in the second half with coach Dieter Hecking sent to the stands for dissent in the 74th minute.

Seconds later the stadium erupted in wild celebration as Raffael powered down the wing and crossed for Norwegian Havard Nordtveit, who volleyed in from 15 metres giving Wolfsburg keeper Diego Benaglio no chance.

Gladbach struck again when Stindl`s defence-splitting pass sent Traore through to slot home.

Schubert became the first Gladbach coach to win his opening three Bundesliga matches in charge and they climbed to 13th on nine points. Wolfsburg dropped to seventh on 12 points.