Bayern hit seven to go top

Bayern Munich warmed up for next week’s trip to Villarreal in the Champions League with a 7-0 win over Freiburg yesterday in the German league as striker Mario Gomez and midfielder Franck Ribery shone.

Germany striker Gomez, last season’s top scorer in the Bundesliga, scored four goals – including a second-half hat-trick – to take his tally to eight in the league after just five games.

Not to be out-done, Ribery netted twice in the first half as part of an eye-catching display when the French winger showed great footwork, especially for his first goal when he left two defenders standing.

Bayern replacement Nils Petersen profited from Munich’s midfield enjoying complete control when he scored the seventh just before the final whistle.

Munich are at Villarreal on Wednesday in Group A of the Champions League and are in impressive form.

The rout leaves Bayern top of the league and with just over a month gone of the new season, they already have a goal difference of 15. Regardless of results elsewhere they will finish the weekend as Bundesliga leaders.

Defending champions Borussia Dortmund suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Hertha Berlin as they prepare for Tuesday’s visit of Premier League side Arsenal in Europe’s premier club competition.

After the hosts dominated the opening half, Berlin’s Brazilian striker Raffael enjoyed considerable luck for the opening goal.

Germany defender Marcel Schmelzer tried to clear the danger, but in the scramble with goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller, the ball fell to Raffael, who fired into an empty net on 49 minutes.

Berlin doubled the lead when midfielder Peter Niemeyer netted a second on 82 minutes and although Dortmund’s Poland striker Robert Lewandowski scored a consolation goal on 88 minutes, it was too little, too late.

This was Dortmund’s second defeat in four league games and leaves Jurgen Klopp’s side 10th in the table and puts Berlin seventh.

Results
B. Munich 7 - Freiburg 0
B. Dortmund 1 - H. Berlin 2
B. M’gladbach 1 - Kaiserslautern 0
Mainz 0 - Hoffenheim 4
Stuttgart 3 - Hannover 0
W. Bremen 2 - Hamburg 0

Played on Friday
Augsburg 1B. Leverkusen4

Today
Cologne vs Nuremberg - 15.30
Wolfsburg vs Schalke 04 - 17.30

Standings: B. Munich, W. Bremen 12; B. M’gladbach, B. Leverkusen 10; Hoffen-heim, Schalke 9; H. Berlin, Hannover 8; Stuttgart, B. Dortmund, Mainz 7; Nur-emberg 6; Cologne, Freiburg 4; Wolfsburg 3; Augbsurg, Kaiserslautern 2; Hamburg 1.