Bayern Munich back on top of Bundesliga after victory over Bayer Leverkusen

29 August 2015 18:46

Bayern Munich returned to the top of the Bundesliga on Saturday evening with a 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen, who dropped their first points of the season.

Thomas Muller scored his goals number four and five of the season before allowing Arjen Robben to take Bayern's next penalty to open his account for the campaign in a comfortable win for Pep Guardiola's men.

Bayern top the table with three wins out of three, although Borussia Dortmund are able to join them on Sunday.

Guardiola lined Xabi Alonso up with David Alaba at the heart of a makeshift central defence, with Medhi Benatia and Jerome Boateng both absent due to injury and suspension respectively.

That selection may have felt like a slap in the face for central defender Dante, who was only on the bench and now looks increasingly likely to leave the champions before Monday's transfer deadline - particularly since Alonso and Alaba did a sterling job.

Leverkusen came at the Bavarians with a three-man attack and, while their focus was mainly on ensuring Bayern did not create chances - succeeding in limiting them to a Thiago Alcantara effort in the first 25 minutes - they did try to seek out Karim Bellarabi down the right as often as they could.

The first time Douglas Costa escaped the attentions of Roberto Hilbert proved crucial, however.

The Brazilian's fine first touch enabled him to skip past the Leverkusen full-back and, like in Bayern's first two wins of the season, his cross was turned in by Muller from close range, the Germany midfielder celebrating his 75th Bundesliga goal in his 200th appearance.

It also took the 25-year-old to the top of this season's scoring charts with his fourth of the current campaign, although more was still to come.

Costa struck the post minutes later when he raced in unmarked at the far post to meet Robben's cross, forcing Leverkusen to regroup temporarily before regaining some ground.

They made good enough territory to earn a free-kick in a dangerous position, or rather a lethal one when you have Hakan Calhanoglu in your team.

The Turkish midfielder once again underlined his set-piece prowess with a dipping effort which Manuel Neuer barely touched onto the crossbar as Bayern survived a scare in preserving their lead to the break.

Robben sought a penalty with a theatrical fall in the opening minute of the first-half, his prolonged protests falling on deaf ears.

Back at the other end, Neuer and then Alaba both denied Stefan Kiessling before Bayern did get a penalty with Hilbert shoving Arturo Vidal in the back, and Muller made it five for the season, converting his ninth Bundesliga penalty in 10 attempts.

Hilbert's miserable evening continued when he handled the ball inside the area to give away another penalty, which Robben this time converted to boost his personal record to 11 successful spot-kicks out of 12.

Robbie Kruse had a goal ruled out for handball before Dante was sent on for probably his final appearance for Bayern, as Guardiola turned charitable.

Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze could have made it worse for Leverkusen, while Costa opted for some showboating as Bayern asserted their authority on the game, and once again on the Bundesliga.

Source: PA