Bayern Munich played host to struggling Freiburg this afternoon looking to extend their already considerable lead at the top of the Bundesliga.
The home side went into half time with a 3-0 lead courtesy of an early header by Brazilian defender Dante and a brace from Xherdan Shaqiri.
It remained comfortable for Bayern in the second period, and they completed the rout two minutes from time when Claudio Pizarro added a fourth.
Find out how all of the action unfolded with our minute-but-minute text commentary below.
Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of the Bundesliga clash between league leaders Bayern Munich and struggling Freiburg. There's just over 20 minutes to go until kickoff, but we've got team news and build-up for you before then.
Both starting XIs coming up...
BAYERN: Neuer; Rafinha, Dante, Martinez, Contento; Lahm; Shaqiri, Muller, Kroos, Robben; Pizarro
FREIBURG: Baumann; Mujdza, Krmas, Hohn, Sorg; Ginter, Fernandes; Schmid, Darida, Klaus; Mehmedi
Bayner boss Pep Guardiola has chosen to reshuffled the pack this afternoon, with Claudio Pizarro starting up front, Diego Contento coming in at left-back and Javi Martinez replacing Jerome Boateng at cenre-back.
Freiburg have a mammoth task on their hands stopping an unbeaten Bayern at the Allianz Arena today, with the home side in scintillating form. Admir Mehmedi represents their biggest goal threat, playing off Vladimir Darida.
Bayern had a break from league action midweek, but they steamrollered Hamburger SV to blaze into the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal. The visitors have managed two wins in their last four matches, but their inconsistency has seen them end up preciously close to the relegation positions in 15th place.
PREDICTION: With Guardiola's side in such a rich vein of form, you'd be foolish to bet against them. I'm going with a comprehensive 3-0 win to Bayern this afternoon.
Just a reminder that Bayern are an impressive 13 points clear of nearest rivals Bayer Leverkusen, while Freiburg are in 15th. You can check out how they stand ahead of kickoff here.
KICKOFF: We are under way here at the Allianz Arena!
Bayern have started strongly and are seeing plenty of the ball, but there has been any goalmouth action in the opening stages. Freiburg don't look like a team who will be content to throw 10 men behind the ball and defend all afternoon, despite the home side's firepower.
The visitors press forward and might have caused Bayern some problems had the linesman's flag not gone up against Felix Klaus. He thought he had beaten the offside trap there, but was a fraction off when it came to timing his run from where I'm sitting.
Freiburg have set their stall out well and maintained some possession inside the opposition's half. They've just threatened from a corner, which Diego Contento intercepted and before playing the ball upfield.
Xherdan Shaqiri does well to get a yard on his marker and test the vistor's defence. He goes for goal from the edge of the box, but his effort is blocked before finding its way to Oliver Baumann in the Freiburg goal.
Half-chance for Freiburg as Matthias Ginter hits one from 25 yards, putting his effort well over the bar. That was an ambitious attempt that failed to trouble Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer.
The away side are in the midst of a real purple patch, putting Bayern under considerable pressure. Jonathan Schmid hits one directly from a free kick, but it cannons into the wall. Toni Kroos produces a vital block to deny Ginter in front of goal moments later.
Bayern have dominated the possession statistically speaking, but it's Freiburg who have created all of the goalscoring chances. Christian Gunter has been booked for bringing down Arjen Robben in a dangerous position.
GOAL! Bayern Munich 1-0 Freiburg (Dante)
Bayern take the lead through Brazilian defender Dante, who heads an inviting cross from Diego Contento into the bottom corner, beating Oliver Baumann at full stretch!
Dante's goal came against the run of play, but you wouldn't bet against Bayern going on to punish their opponents further. They've looked a lot more comfortable in possession since taking the lead.
Freiburg looking submissive since going behind. They have barely ventured outside of their half since Dante headed the hosts in front. Bayern continue to ask all of the questions, but haven't created any clear-cut chances these past few moments.
Claudio Pizarro picks up possession inside the Freiburg area, but was forced off the ball before he was able to pull the trigger. Oliver Baumann collects the loose ball and hoists it upfield.
It's been another decent spell for the visitors, in the sense that they have prevented a dominant Bayern from creating any chances. Dante's free header remains the only real chance of this match, and is what is separating the two teams at present.
GOAL! Bayern Munich 2-0 Freiburg (Xherdan Shaqiri)
Bayern double their advantage courtesy of a fortuitous strike from Xherdan Shaqiri, who gains possession when a ricochet lands at his feet and beats Baumann in the away goal with the aid of a deflection.
MISS! Arjen Robben should have added a third for the hosts, and he knows it. The Dutchman shows great skill, dribbling his way past three defenders before blazing his strike over the bar with only the goalkeeper to beat. He did everything right until he pulled the trigger!
GOAL! Bayern Munich 3-0 Freiburg (Xherdan Shaqiri)
Bayern are flying now! Shaqiri nets his fourth goal of the season following good work by Toni Kroos along the left. The midfielder played a low pass to his teammate in the centre of the box and Shaqiri made no mistake from close range, his effort taking a deflection off Muller on its way into the net.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Freiburg have the ball in the net, but the goal is ruled out for offside against Admir Mehmedi. The replay shows that the linesman called that one incorrectly! The visitors have every right to feel hard done by.
HALF TIME: Bayern Munich 3-0 Freiburg
Bayern looking comfortable at the break, with a header from Dante and a Xherdan Shaqiri brace giving them a 3-0 lead over Freiburg, but it's easy to sympathise with the away side.
Admir Mehmedi thought he had reduced the deficit on the stroke of half time, but his effort was wrongfully ruled out for offside. Pulling a goal back going into the second half would no doubt have given them a psychological boost.
It's difficult to see any way back for them in the second half. Bayern stormed into a 3-0 lead without playing anywhere near their best, which is often a hallmark of champions.
KICKOFF The second half is now under way. How many more are Bayern capable of scoring in this match? Stick around to find out!
It's been a subdued start to the second period from both sides. Bastian Schweinsteiger is warming up on the touchline in preparation for his return from injury, while Javi Martínez has been shown a yellow card following a mistimed tackle.
CHANCE! Bayern register their first attempt of the second period as Kroos supplies a cross for Robben in front of goal, the Dutchman's header deflecting behind for a corner kick.
CHANCE! Another chance falls to the hosts, with Thomas Muller failing to find the target this time. He does well to collect Pizarro's cross inside the box, but his attempt to lob Baumann ends up over the crossbar.
Shaqiri finds space wide on the left, but delays putting in a cross for too long, allowing Baumann to make a comfortable save from Pizarro's tame header.
It's been all Bayern in this second period, but Freiburg have defended tenciously. You get the impression that this has become about damage limitation for them as the hour mark approaches.
MISS! It's a good job that Bayern are three goals to the good, because Diego Contento has just missed a sitter, putting a free header over the bar from mere yards out. Shaqiri showed great vision to pick him out with the cross, but his teammate should have done better!
SUBSTITUTION: Schweinsteiger gets rapturous applause as he enters the field of play to replace Shaqiri. The vistors have also made a change, throwing on Kerk for Klaus.
CLOSE! Toni Kroos almost finds the top corner, hitting one first time from the edge of the box following a deft cutback by Claudio Pizarro. I don't think the outstretching Oliver Baumann would have kept that out had it been on target!
Toni Kroos has now found himself in the referee's noteback after mistiming a tackle. Bayern have made another substitution, throwing on Mario Gotze in place of Philipp Lahm.
CLOSE! Feiburg come within inches of pulling one back as Sebastian Kerk finds himself in aches of space. He bears down on goal and sidefoots an effort behind Manuel Neuer, but it ends up narrowly wide of the post.
Freiburg have suffered some misfortune in this match. It could quite easily be 3-2 now had Admir Mehmedi's goal stood in the first half and Kerk's strike been an inch or two to the right. They have made another change, with Schuster on in place of Ginter.
It feels like Bayern are merely running down the clock now, with much of the urgency gone from their game. Claudio Pizarro takes a pot shot following a counterattack, which Oliver Baumann tips behind for a corner.
SUBSTITUTION: Daniel van Buyten replaces Arjen Robben as Bayern make a defensive change to boost their chances of keeping a clean sheet this afternoon.
SUBSTITUTION: The visitors make their final change, throwing on Karim Guede for Admir Mehmedi, a swap that is unlikely to have an impact on the final scoreline.
Bayern are heading for their 13th win in a row. What an impressive feat that is from Pep Guardiola's side. Dante has just been booked for them, though.
MISS! Bayern have missed a few sitters this afternoon, and this definitely counts as another one! Javi Martínez found himself clean through on goal with the offside flag down, but put his effort into the sidenetting with only the keeper to beat. That's why he plays in defence!
GOAL! Bayern Munich 4-0 Freiburg (Claudio Pizarro)
The Peruvian adds a fourth for Bayern with just two minutes to go, extending their head with a superb solo effort. Pizarro ghosts into the box past two defenders to set himself up, and lashes a low strike straight into the bottom corner!
FULL TIME: Bayern Munich 4-0 Freiburg
No time added on here at the Allianz Arena when Bayern Munich have defeated Freiburg by a comfortable four goals to nil. The hosts were rarely at their best, but looked every inch like a side on course to reclaim the Bundesliga title.
That's all we've got time for this afternoon, but stick with Sports Mole for full reports from all of today's Bundesliga matches, as well as post-match reaction. Many thanks for joining us!
Written by
Mark Langshaw
Mark Langshaw
