Bayern Munich struck twice in the second half to beat bottom club Hertha Berlin 2-0 on Sunday and retake the lead in the Bundesliga with four matches remaining.
Goals from Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman helped the Bavarians take advantage of Borussia Dortmund’s draw at VfL Bochum on Friday to leapfrog them into top spot on 62 points. Dortmund are on 61 in second place.
It was one-way traffic from the start with Bayern trying to find an early goal and Hertha soaking up the pressure and waiting to break with Dodi Lukebakio.
The Bavarians should have been in front after 45 minutes, but Sadio Mane and Benjamin Pavard both narrowly missed the target and Hertha keeper Oliver Christensen pulled off outstanding saves to deny Gnabry and Coman from close range.
The hosts finally broke the deadlock in the 69th minute when Joshua Kimmich chipped the ball into the path of Gnabry, who beat Christensen with a diving header.
Another superb pinpoint assist from Kimmich 10 minutes later found Coman to score Bayern’s second goal.
The victory ended Bayern’s four-game winless run across all competitions, while offering coach Thomas Tuchel some needed respite after his team’s German Cup and Champions League exits in recent weeks.
Hertha, without a league win in Munich since the 1977-78 season, remain in last place on 22 points.
