By Toby Prince
Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Bayern Munich routed previously unbeaten Borussia Dortmund 5-1 Sunday to open up a seven-point lead after eight Bundesliga matches.
Thomas Mueller also scored twice after Dortmund had started brightly.
Bayern’s attacking midfielder opened the scoring in the 26th minute when Jerome Boateng sent him through with a long ball over the top, and he claimed his second from the penalty spot in the 35th, after Henrikh Mkhitaryan brought down Thiago Alcantara.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pulled one back a minute later but Lewandowski scored seconds after the break to kill any hopes his former side had of a comeback.
The Poland striker latched onto another long pass over the top from Boateng, took the ball past the goalkeeper and finished with aplomb.
Mario Goetze, another former Dortmund player, set up Lewandowski’s second in the 58th and then completed the scoring in the 58th.
It was Bayern’s eighth consecutive win to start the season, equalling the club’s own record of 24 points with a plus 24 goal difference from the 2012/13 season.
Bayer Leverkusen drew 1-1 with visiting Augsburg, which took the lead in the 12th when goalkeeper Bernd Leno misjudged a simple back pass, kicked air and let the ball roll into the net.
Karim Bellarabi equalized on a rebound in the 39th after Javier Hernandez’ initial effort hit the post.
Earlier Sunday, Cologne substitute Simon Zoller scored one minute after coming on as Schalke’s six-game winning streak ended with a 3-0 defeat.
Zoller scored with his first touch in the 84th, five minutes after Yannick Gerhardt had eluded two defenders with a neat trick to seal the result.
Anthony Modeste opened the scoring just before the break after being played through by Leonardo Bittencourt.
Cologne climbed to fifth with its fourth win.
Schalke, which had won its previous four league games and two Europa League matches, remained third.