Bayern crush Duisburg 4-0 to move back to first

Bayern Munich crushed MSV Duisburg 4-0 yesterday to storm back on top of the Bundesliga just one week after the defending champions relinquished first place to Werder Bremen, who were held to a 0-0 draw at Hanover.

Brazil winger Ze Roberto scored a spectacular back-heel goal while Germany captain Michael Ballack and Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz each headed in crosses before Claudio Pizarro made it 4-0 to keep Bayern unbeaten at home.

It was the biggest victory of the season for Bayern, still in fine form after their 2-1 Champions League win over Juventus on Tuesday.

Bayern had slipped behind Bremen on goal difference last week after their 1-1 draw at third place Schalke.

Schalke were held to a 0-0 draw at VfL Wolfsburg yesterday.

Bayern now lead the table with 25 points ahead of Bremen at 23 and Schalke with 20.

"After such a strong performance against Juventus it was anything but certain we'd be able to have another great effort right after that," said Bayern coach Felix Magath.

"I have to pay a compliment to the professionalism of my team. We dominated the match and there was never any doubt."

Duisburg have not won in Munich for the last 38 years.

Bayern, playing before another sold-out crowd of 66,000, have won five straight Bundesliga matches at their new venue and have yet to give up a single goal. They have won 13 straight in Munich, including Olympic Stadium matches last season.

Ballack knocked in a superb cross from Santa Cruz to put Bayern in front after 27 minutes. It was his fourth goal of the season.

Ze Roberto made it 2-0 six minutes later with a magnificent solo effort. He fell as his first shot bounced off two defenders but was quickly on his feet again to back-heel the rebound from five metres away between goalkeeper Georg Koch's legs.

Ze Roberto later lofted a cross to an unmarked Santa Cruz in front of Duisburg's goal to make it 3-0 in the 59th minute and Pizarro came off the bench for a last-minute score.

Results

Nuremberg vs A. Bielefeld 2-3
B. Munich vs Duisburg 4-0
B. M'gladbach vs Kaiserslautern 4-1

E. Frankfurt vs Cologne 6-3
Hanover vs W. Bremen 0-0
H. Berlin vs Mainz 3-1
Wolfsburg vs Schalke 0-0

Playing Today - 5.30 p.m.
B. Leverkusen vs Stuttgart
B. Dortmund vs Hamburg