Bayern bring down Bremen

Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski scores his side’s fourth goal in their German League match against S.V. Werder Bremen at the Allianz Arena Stadium in Munich on Saturday. Bayern won 5-0. (Photo: AP)

Thomas Mueller and Thiago Alcantara both netted twice as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich warmed up for their crunch Champions League clash at home to Juventus by blitzing Werder Bremen 5-0 on Saturday.

With second-placed Borussia Dortmund playing Mainz on Sunday, Pep Guardiola’s Bayern took the chance to reopen an eight-point gap.

“People think it’s easy to win 5-0, but every game is like a final for us to stay ahead of Dortmund,” said Guardiola, who rested Dutch star Arjen Robben from the match-day squad.

Bremen arrived in Munich buoyed by back-to-back wins over Bayer Leverkusen and bottom side Hanover, but missing three key players.

Veteran striker Claudio Pizarro was out with a groin injury while captain Clemens Fritz and dead-ball expert Zlatko Junuzovic were suspended.

It took Bayern just nine minutes to take the lead at Munich’s Allianz Arena.

Kingsley Coman’s cross was met by Thiago for his first league goal since February 2014 after a horror run of injuries.

Mueller made it 2-0 when he fired Coman’s cross home at close-range on 31 minutes.

Bremen goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald then blocked Franck Ribery’s fierce shot on 66 minutes, but Mueller fired in the rebound.

Guardiola gave Mario Goetze his first league start since October, but it was his replacement Lewandow-ski who came off the bench to hit Bayern’s fourth.