Bayern closer to another title with 6-0 rout of Hamburg

BERLIN (AP) — Robert Lewandowski scored a hat trick and missed a penalty as Bayern Munich enjoyed another rout of Hamburger SV, winning 6-0 on Saturday to move closer to its latest Bundesliga title.

Bayern can wrap up its record-extending sixth consecutive league title next weekend if other results go its way.

Lewandowski completed his hat trick in the final minute with his second penalty attempt, taking his league-leading tally to 23 - five more than the entire Hamburg team this season - and his Bundesliga total for Bayern to 100.

With 142 goals in competitive games, the Poland striker is Bayern's most prolific foreign player.

"The game today and the result is also important for Wednesday, because you can never hide in football, you can never take it easy," said Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes, looking ahead to the Champions League.

Bayern travels to Besiktas with a 5-0 lead from the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Bayern's only concern is for French midfielder Corentin Tolisso, who went off injured after a clash with Vasilije Janjicic.

Hamburg had other worries. The side's 44 goals conceded in its last seven games in Munich did not bode well for the visitors.

The home side needed only seven minutes to get off the mark as Hamburg captain Gotoku Sakai's attempted clearance went straight to Franck Ribery, who duly skipped past the 'keeper to score.

The visitors must have feared the worst when Lewandowski scored five minutes later, heading home off a cross from Joshua Kimmich, and claimed his second seven minutes after that.

"The game was over after 18 minutes," said Bernd Hollerbach after his seventh game without a win as Hamburg coach.

Hollerbach's side held on until Arjen Robben made it 4-0 10 minutes into the second half, and Ribery went on to claim his second.

Lewandowski uncharacteristically sent a penalty over with four minutes remaining, but was given another chance shortly afterward when Filip Kostic shoved Kimmich. Lewandowski made no mistake with his second attempt.

"It's not the football I want to see," said Hollerbach, who noted that relegation rival Wolfsburg also lost, at Hoffenheim 3-0.

Wolfsburg remains level on points with Mainz, which lost to Schalke 1-0 on Friday and occupies the relegation-playoff place. Hamburg is seven points behind both Wolfsburg and Mainz with eight games remaining.

"I still believe in it," Hollerbach said of his side's chances of avoiding relegation.

Last-place Cologne visits Werder Bremen on Monday and can move above Hamburg with a win.

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LEVERKUSEN EYES CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Lucas Alario scored one and set up another for Bayer Leverkusen to move third with a 2-0 win over visiting Borussia Moenchengladbach.

The home side gained the upper hand after half an hour and duly made the breakthrough before the break when Leon Bailey crossed for Kevin Volland at the far post. Volland headed the ball back for the lurking Alario to hammer it past the 'Gladbach 'keeper.

Julian Brandt, who came on for the impressive Bailey, wrapped it up in injury time on a counterattack after Alario played the ball over.

Leverkusen moved two points above Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt ahead of their clash on Sunday, while 'Gladbach dropped to ninth.

Also, Augsburg won in Hannover 3-1, and Freiburg drew at Hertha Berlin 0-0.