Bayern Munich 3-0 Bayer Leverkusen: Robben nets on return from injury as league leaders cruise to victory

Bayern Munich comfortably saw off the challenge of Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 at the Allianz Arena on Saturday afternoon to remain on top of the Bundesliga. Thomas Muller, Daniel van Buyten and a returning Arjen Robben found the net to clinch another three points for the Bavarian giants.

In a fast and frenetic start to the match Bayern looked a class apart from a nervous Leverkusen still reeling from last weekend's 4-1 defeat to Koln. The enormity of the task facing the visitors was compounded further with the talented Andre Schurrle missing out.  

There was a touch of class to Bayern's opening goal. Toni Kroos found Mario Gomez, who fed the dangerous Frank Ribery to bolt past the Leverkusen defence and lay the ball to Thomas Muller to make it 1-0 after only five minutes.   

Ribery continued to look dangerous, threatening the Leverkusen defense with incisive runs and passes. The Frenchman was brought down near the area, and Daniel van Buyten thundered home the resulting free kick from outside the box to double the home side's advantage on 19 minutes.

The game looked to be drifting away from Leverkusen, but to their credit they held firm without causing Manuel Neuer any problems in the home goal.

The second half started in less furious style, with Leverkusen slowing down the pace and sucking the intensity out of the Bayern's play. Gonzalo Castro forced Neuer into action on 51 minutes after darting past Van Buyten. Stefan Kiessling then came close but saw his shot deflected wide.

Muller began to show his class as the game progressed, brilliantly setting up Ribery who shot from an offside position.

Bastian Schweinsteiger set up Arjen Robben to complete Leverkusen's misery in the closing moments, and Bayern can be pleased with the manner in which they despatched the Champions League competitors with relative ease.