Football
2016/2017 German Bundesliga
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PA Sport 7y

Bayern ease past Frankfurt as Lewandowski nets 100th goal

Robert Lewandowski scored his 100th goal for Bayern Munich as the reigning Bundesliga champions pulled 10 points clear at the top following a 3-0 home victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.

With second-placed RB Leipzig losing to Wolfsburg on Saturday, the Bavarians' easy win at the Allianz Arena, which saw Lewandowski reach an important career milestone with a goal in each half, lifts them into a dominant position to retain the title as the season enters the final straight.

Douglas Costa was on target too, in a game which also saw long-term injury absentee Jerome Boateng return to action as a second-half substitute.

Niko Kovac's Eagles, meanwhile, remain in contention for a Europa League place, but this was their fifth straight defeat and third by this scoreline in their last five away games.

It was Frankfurt who threatened first, with Timothy Chandler setting up Ante Rebic for a shot that pinged just wide in the second minute.

Bayern responded well with Arjen Robben crossing from the by-line for Arturo Vidal to blast just off target.

The visitors should have taken the lead in the 20th minute but Mats Hummels made a world-class tackle to preserve Bayern's clean sheet.

When Branimir Hrgota edged a one-on-one with an isolated Manuel Neuer, Germany centre-back Hummels raced over to put in a decisive foot from behind that spared his goalkeeper's blushes.

Bayern were buoyed by that moment and turned the screw, with David Alaba soon swinging the ball in for Costa to fizz an effort past a post.

In the 39th minute the champions made the breakthrough. Thomas Muller did all the hard work before finding Lewandowski in the six-yard box for the Pole's 20th league goal of the season.

His strike ensured Bayern have scored in their last 46 home games in all competitions, their best streak since the early 1980s.

Less than 60 seconds later it was 2-0 as Costa converted another tap-in following a superb assist from Alaba.

Bayern continued the onslaught when play resumed after half-time, with Makoto Hasebe clearing Muller's chip off the line before, at the other end, Rebic cracked a shot against the crossbar.

But it was not a sign of better things to come for Frankfurt.

In the 55th minute former Borussia Dortmund striker Lewandowski controlled Robben's pass before slotting home to record a century of Bayern goals.

Home fans had even more reason to be cheerful in the second half as the Allianz witnessed Boateng return to action following his four-month injury lay-off, the defender replacing Javi Martinez shortly before hat-trick hopeful Lewandowski went off for Kingsley Coman to a standing ovation.

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