Bayern Munich 6-1 Werder Bremen: Gnabry bags hat-trick
Serge Gnabry scored a hat-trick as Bayern Munich moved four points clear at the Bundesliga summit following a 6-1 victory over Werder Bremen.
Jamal Musiala, Leon Goretzka and Mathys Tel were also on target for Julian Nagelsmann's side, who equalled a club record by netting at least four goals in a fourth successive home league game.
It was not all positive for Bayern, though, as Sadio Mane limped off less than two weeks before the start of the World Cup, while Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting saw a penalty saved.
Werder had briefly equalised early on through Anthony Jung, yet they are now without a win in 30 meetings with Bayern.
Musiala put Bayern in front in the sixth minute, calmly slotting into the far corner after Mane's initial effort was blocked, but Werder were level four minutes later when Jung tucked home from Mitchell Weiser's lay-off.
Despite Choupo-Moting seeing his penalty saved and Mane limping off injured, the hosts regained the lead in the 22nd minute as Gnabry curled a brilliant effort beyond Jiri Pavlenka.
Bayern then hit their opponents on the counter twice in quick succession. Goretzka made it 3-1 after racing onto Joshua Kimmich's throughball and rounding Pavlenka, before Leroy Sane latched onto Choupo-Moting's precise pass and squared for Gnabry to slot into an empty net.
Julian Nagelsmann's side scarcely slowed after half-time as Sane hit the post, while Pavlenka thwarted Gnabry's attempted lob for the hat-trick.
He was not to be denied in the 82nd minute as he cleverly stepped inside a couple of challenges before poking home, and Tels put the icing on the cake two minutes later with a powerful finish into the top corner.
What does it mean? Nine in a row for Bayern
Another big Bayern home win took their Bundesliga goals tally to 47 already, more than any other side across Europe's top five leagues.
This was a ninth successive victory for the Bavarians in all competitions, their best sequence in over a year as they established breathing space at the top of the league table.
Gnabry at the treble
Hat-trick hero Gnabry led the way in Bayern's attack with his three goals coming from game-high tallies of five shots and four on target.
The Germany international's treble marks the fourth time he has scored three or more times in a game for the Bundesliga champions – and the first since his hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Stuttgart 11 months ago.
Musiala's teenage dream continues
Musiala has been directly involved in 13 Bundesliga goals this season – more than any other player in the German top flight (nine goals, four assists).
His nine goals are the most recorded by any teenager after the first 14 matchdays of a Bundesliga campaign.
What's next?
After seeing second-placed Freiburg in action on Wednesday, Bayern travel to Schalke on Saturday for their final Bundesliga match before the World Cup takes centre stage. Werder look to respond at home to RB Leipzig on the same day.