Bayern Munich ease past rivals Union Berlin 3- 0 to remain in top spot

Bayern Munich defeated Union Berlin 3-0 to secure their place as championship favourites and put the visitors, who had just suffered their first league loss of the season, three points behind after the victory. Bayern Munich scored three goals in a punishing first half. Bayern maintained first position with 46 points, ahead of Borussia Dortmund on goal differential, after last week's defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach thanks to an outstanding first half effort. With 43 points, Union is third. The attacker Sadio Mane made his return after more than three months as a second-half replacement after suffering an injury in November, which was further good news for the Bavarians. Bayern fired punch after punch in a ferocious opening, denying their opponents any chance to score in their Champions League round of 16 second leg matchup at home against Paris Saint-Germain on March 8. Thomas Muller of Bayern, who played his 650th game for the team in all competitions, commented, "This was a highly busy game." "We need to engage in this action in order to play our game." We moved and collaborated pretty nicely. Now we must continue to provide each week. It was only a baby step in the direction of how we want to play football. With almost 70% of the possession, the champs were in perfect control, but Muller was unable to connect in front of goal following excellent early work from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in the fifth minute. In the 31st minute, Choupo-Moting improved upon it by looping his header from a Kingsley Coman cross past goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow to give his team the lead. The Cameroonian striker has now scored against every side currently competing in the German top division after scoring his first goal against Union. When Jamal Musiala converted a Mueller cutback in stoppage time to end the game after 45 minutes and record his 11th league goal on his 20th birthday, Coman turned scorer, rounding the keeper to put in their second. Union were on the back foot after the interval as well, and they should credit goalie Ronnow for keeping the score low with a succession of spectacular stops. Union had won five of their previous six league games in 2023 in order to stay in the championship fight. Freiburg and Bayer Leverkusen drew 1-1 in the other game on Sunday, dropping Freiburg to fifth position with 41 points.