An astonishing five-goal first half blitz - including four in seven minutes - has fired champions Bayern Munich to a 5-1 rout of Bayer Leverkusen and back to the top of the Bundesliga.
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Only goal difference separated Bayern and Leverkusen before kick-off but a clinical display from Julian Nagelsmann's side exposed a wide gulf between the teams.
Robert Lewandowski needed only three minutes to flick in the opener and struck his second in the 30th.
That sparked a complete collapse from the hosts as Thomas Mueller made it 3-0 in the 34th before Serge Gnabry hit a quick-fire double in the 35th and 37th minutes.
"We still had a chance for the sixth, seventh or eighth goal in the first half," said Nagelsmann while midfielder Joshua Kimmich described the opening 45 minutes as "gigantic".
Leverkusen, to their credit, attempted to salvage some dignity after the re-start but had only Patrik Schik's response to show for their efforts.
"We weren't at the level, above all in the first half," Leverkusen coach Gerardo Seoane told DAZN after a run of five consecutive wins came to an emphatic end.
"They have shown us why they are the best team in Germany."
Bayern re-claimed top spot a point ahead of Borussia Dortmund, who won 3-1 against Mainz on Saturday, while Leverkusen are two further back in third.
Meanwhile, Augsburg drew 1-1 with Arminia Bielefeld on Sunday in a result that left both teams in the bottom three.
Australian Associated Press
