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German Bundesliga review: Muller hat-trick sinks Frankfurt

Thomas Muller celebrates for Bayern Munich
Image: Thomas Muller: Celebrates for Bayern Munich

Thomas Muller struck a hat-trick as Bayern Munich opened up a seven-point advantage at the top of the Bundesliga with a 4-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Germany international Muller broke the deadlock in what was becoming a frustrating game for Bayern before adding two more in as many second-half minutes.

Xherdan Shaqiri added a fourth late on as Pep Guardiola's men continued their march towards a third straight Bundesliga title.

Wolfsburg and Borussia Monchengladbach, who are Bayern's nearest challengers at the top of the table, are both in action on Sunday and can reduce the gap to the pacesetters back to four points.

Hannover, winners on Friday night, remained in fourth after fifth-placed Hoffenheim went down 4-3 at home to Cologne at the Rhein Neckar Arena.

Adam Szalai gave the hosts the lead after just two minutes, but Pawel Olowski scored his first goal for Cologne to level soon after.

Matthias Lehmann then put Cologne in front before Anthony Ujah doubled their advantage. Two goals before half-time from Roberto Firmino brought Hoffenheim back on terms, but it was Olkowski who clinched an exciting victory for Cologne less than 10 minutes from time.

Sixth-placed Bayer Leverkusen also failed to pick up a win as they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Mainz, allowing Augsburg to close to within two points of them with a 3-0 win over Paderborn.

Tobias Werner became Augsburg's outright record Bundesliga goalscorer with a brace in the triumph, twice beating former team-mate and best friend Lukas Kruse in the Paderborn goal before Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker added a third.

Werner's double strike moved him onto 19 Bundesliga goals and two clear of the club record he shared with Sascha Molders.

Elsewhere, Freiburg picked up their second win of the season and their second in a row after beating travel-sick Schalke 2-0, Christian Gunter's first professional goal and a Jonathan Schmid effort sealing the points.

Werder Bremen, who have been transformed since Viktor Skripnik replaced Robin Dutt as coach, were also celebrating a 2-0 win as goals from Sebastian Prodl and Fin Bartels helped plunge defeated opponents Stuttgart into the relegation zone.

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