Early goals allow Bayern to cruise

Bayern Munich bounced back from dropping their first points in 11 games a fortnight ago by returning to winning ways with a 4-0 triumph against Hertha Berlin at the Allianz Arena. Mario Gomez started and finished the scoring, with further goals from Franck Ribery and Bastian Schweinsteiger making it 3-0 to the hosts inside the first 13 minutes. Gomez's second came from the penalty spot in the 69th minute, by which time Bayern were already taking it easy in preparation for a big European match in midweek. Gomez opened the scoring in the fifth minute when he latched onto Ribery's through-ball, beat Andre Mijatovic and then shot low into the bottom corner from outside the penalty area. Jerome Boateng set up the second goal in the seventh minute when he got to the goalline and pulled the ball back across to Ribery, who slotted it in from six yards out. Schweinsteiger makes it three Ribery created the third as he beat one man before threading the ball into the path of Schweinsteiger, who needed just one touch to guide the ball low into the bottom corner of Thomas Kraft's goal to make it three after only 13 minutes. It was the first time since Markus Babbel became coach of Hertha 18 months ago that his side have conceded more than two goals in one game, and there were still 77 minutes left to be played. Babbel could have been forgiven for fearing the worst, given Freiburg were beaten 7-0 at the Allianz Arena earlier this season. But Bayern's UEFA Champions League tie at Napoli on Tuesday night may have saved Hertha from a similar fate as the hosts moved down the gears to save energy for that match. They still managed to find a fourth, though, when Ribery was fouled inside the penalty area by Roman Hubnik and Gomez stepped up to score from the spot and seal another comprehensive win for the Bundesliga leaders.