BAYERN Munich eased to a comfortable 3-0 victory over promoted Leipzig in their top-of-the-table clash to claim the Bundesliga’s unofficial title of “autumn champion” before the winter break.

    “We wanted to send a signal,” Bayern captain Philipp Lahm said.

    The two sides had been level going into their 16th-round showdown, with Leipzig, boasting the league’s best away record, quietly confident of causing another upset to round off a remarkable first half-season of top-flight soccer.

    Only founded in 2009, Leipzig was promoted as second-division runner-up last season but surprised many by making the best ever start for a new team in the Bundesliga.

    But the visitors were already two goals down when their hopes were virtually extinguished with Emil Forsberg’s sending off for a dangerous lunge in the 30th minute.

    “We all make mistakes,” Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhuettl said. “It didn’t go as we imagined it would.”

    Thiago Alcantara opened the scoring inside 20 minutes, when he arrived at the right time to convert from close range with his thigh after Robert Lewandowski’s initial effort hit the right post.

    Douglas Costa almost added another immediately afterward, only to see his effort from 14 meters strike the left post.

    Bayern had more shots on goal, more possession and was winning more tackles than the visiting side.

    Xabi Alonso made Bayern’s dominance count minutes later. Naby Keita, a key player for Leipzig, lost the ball to Arturo Vidal, and it went through Lewandowski and then Thiago, who set up a rare goal from open play for Alonso.

    Leipzig’s task grew harder when Forsberg was sent off for a bad challenge on Lahm from behind.

    Lewandowski made it 3-0 with a penalty before the break after Leipzig goalkeeper Gulacsi brought down Costa. It meant Lewandowski has scored against every Bundesliga club, the only active player to do so.

    Gulacsi atoned somewhat by getting the better of Lewandowski in a one-on-one after the break, before substitute Franck Ribery struck the crossbar.

    By then the game was decided, however, and players were already looking forward to their month-long winter break.

    “It was a lesson. The best team won. Congratulations to Bayern,” Hasenhuettl said.

    (SD-Agencies)