BERLIN — Arjen Robben scored twice as Bayern Munich routed third-place Augsburg 4-0 to provisionally increase its Bundesliga lead while Borussia Dortmund slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
Unbeaten Bayern claimed the symbolic "Autumn championship" as it will remain first going into the Bundesliga’s winter break. The defending champion stretched its lead to 10 points over Wolfsburg, which hosts Paderborn on Sunday.
Robben claimed his first goal with a brilliant curling shot one minute after defender Mehdi Benatia broke the deadlock in the 58th. Robert Lewandowski sealed the result with a fine strike 10 minutes later, and Robben wrapped up the scoring two minutes after that.
Hertha striker Julian Schieber returned to haunt Dortmund, scoring in the 40th to leave his former side back in the relegation zone.
Also, Schalke lost 2-1 at home to promoted Cologne, Freiburg and Hamburger SV played out a goalless draw, and Werder Bremen substitute David Selke scored with two minutes remaining to salvage a 3-3 draw against visiting Hannover.
Filip Kostic earned a point for bottom side Stuttgart in a 1-1 draw at Mainz. Johannes Geis put the home side ahead with a free kick in the first half, only for Kostic’s cross to deceive the Mainz defence and bounce inside the far post in the second.
Augsburg did well to frustrate visiting Bayern, and provided ample evidence of why it was third after the club’s best ever start to a season — up to Benatia’s opener.
The Moroccan defender scored his first Bundesliga goal with a backward header in off the far post from Franck Ribery’s free kick, and Robben made it 2-0 by shooting in off the other.
Lewandowski shot low from distance for 3-0, and Sebastian Rode set up Robben for his second two minutes later.
"The first goal was very important. Augsburg then tried to be a bit more offensive and we were able to react to that," said Bastian Schweinsteiger, who started a league game for the first time since recovering from his knee injury.
Dortmund’s defeat was its ninth of the season. The side has only one point from its last seven away games.
Dortmund midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan had to go off with what looked like a hamstring injury in the 35th, allowing Jakub Blaszczykowski on for his comeback from a knee injury. The Poland captain hadn’t played in 322 days.
But the goal came when Per Ciljan Skjelbred capitalized on a poor pass from Neven Subotic for Blaszczykowski and quickly fed Schieber, who eluded Sebastian Kehl to score.
"I’m extremely happy that my team won. I’m sorry for my former teammates," Schieber said.
Dortmund had Mitch Langerak to thank for keeping it 1-0 before the break, the goalkeeper’s right foot enough to deny Roy Beerens.
Visiting coach Juergen Klopp reacted by sending on former Berlin striker Adrian Ramos for the defensively minded Kehl at the break.
Mats Hummels’ powerful header was kept out by Thomas Kraft as Dortmund increased the pressure late on. The Hertha goalkeeper pulled off a great save to deny Ciro Immobile, who then headed an easier chance just wide.
"There were four or five huge chances. We didn’t use any of them," said Klopp, whose side next faces tough games against Wolfsburg and Bremen.
In Gelsenkirchen, Anthony Ujah scored against Schalke a minute after the break and Matthias Lehmann’s penalty in the 67th sealed the home side’s fate.
"It’s very bitter for us but life goes on," said Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Faehrmann, whose side had been on a three-game winning run.
Schalke assistant coach Sven Huebscher needed treatment after he was hit in the head by an object thrown from the crowd.
"He suffered a wound that needed stiches. It’s not acceptable," Schalke general manager Horst Heldt said. "I hope the culprit can be found.’Visiting coach Juergen Klopp reacted by bringing on former Berlin striker Adrian Ramos for the defensively minded Kehl at the break.
Mats Hummels’ powerful header was kept out by Thomas Kraft as Dortmund increased the pressure late on. The Hertha goalkeeper pulled off a great save to deny Ciro Immobile, who then headed an easier chance just wide.
"There were four or five huge chances. We didn’t use any of them," said Klopp, whose side next faces tough games against Wolfsburg and Bremen.
In Gelsenkirchen, Anthony Ujah scored against Schalke a minute after the break and Matthias Lehmann’s penalty in the 67th sealed the home side’s fate.
"It’s very bitter for us but life goes on," said Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Faehrmann, whose side had been on a three-game winning run.
Schalke assistant coach Sven Huebscher needed treatment after he was hit in the head by an object thrown from the crowd.
"He suffered a wound that needed stiches. It’s not acceptable," Schalke general manager Horst Heldt said. "I hope the culprit can be found."