BERLIN (AP) Bayern Munich moved to a huge 20-point lead in the Bundesliga with only nine rounds left after a 4-0 win at Freiburg on Sunday, while Cologne’s slim hopes of survival took a hit.
Two goals in three minutes set Bayern on course for its 20th win in 25 games, leaving it just a matter of time before the Bavarian powerhouse wraps up its record-extending sixth consecutive title.
Jupp Heynckes’ side showed that last weekend’s draw at home to Hertha Berlin was only a temporary scare after a 15-game winning streak.
Thomas Mueller was at the heart of Bayern’s first goal after 24 minutes in which either side could have scored. The Bayern forward’s cross came back off Freiburg defender Caglar Soyuncu’s heel, and Mueller reacted quickly to send the ball back, where it ricocheted off Soyuncu and goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow to go in.
Corentin Tolisso then hammered a brilliant shot from around 30 meters (yards) inside the top right corner.
🚀BOOM! What a goal from Corentin Tolisso!
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 4, 2018
Freiburg 0-2 Bayern pic.twitter.com/rMzdLqspgT
Sandro Wagner, playing in place of the rested Robert Lewandowski, killed any notion of a contest early in the second half after being set up by Mueller.
Wagner makes it 3-0 Bayern, but should VAR have flagged a handball by Bernat? #SCFFCB pic.twitter.com/EQbVtkKmFL
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 4, 2018
Mueller crowned his performance with the fourth goal — a half-volley to Joshua Kimmich’s corner at the near post — with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Thomas Müller is heating up! His 4th goal in 5 games makes it 4-0 Bayern. pic.twitter.com/YS3TVvOVIx
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 4, 2018
Cologne’s chances of an unlikely escape from relegation were hit as Stuttgart came from behind to win 3-2 on an afternoon to forget for goalkeeper Timo Horn.
Veteran striker Claudio Pizarro fired Cologne into an early lead and his side went on to dominate the first half.
Yuya Osako, who had sent Pizarro through, thought he’d scored himself toward the end of the half after Vincent Koziello managed to get the ball from goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler. But the video referee concluded the Hannover `keeper had the ball under control and the goal was disallowed.
It went from bad to worse for Cologne just before the break. Mario Gomez equalized against the run of play, and then scored again when Horn let his harmless shot slip through his arms. Stuttgart forward Daniel Ginczek consoled the Cologne `keeper.
“I’m not making any excuses. It’s a ball that a goalkeeper should get. It’s brutal, especially after such a good first half,” Horn said.
Andreas Beck made it 3-1 early in the second half, shooting inside the far post from a difficult angle, when again Horn looked far from impressive.
Cologne struggled to create chances afterward as Stuttgart sat back and defended, though Milos Jojic got the home fans going again when he scored late with a fine free kick.
Stuttgart held on, however, to climb to ninth with its fourth successive win under new coach Tayfun Korkut, who is unbeaten in five.
Home fans shouted Horn’s name after the game to show their support.
“That’s a huge gesture from the fans and one I’m grateful for,” the goalkeeper said.
Cologne remains bottom with just four wins, eight points from safety.
