Gomez Dominates Cluj With Brilliant Hat-Trick.

Bayern Munich have successfully broken their record for their best European start of all time, and have also secured qualification into the round of sixteen, despite having two fixtures left to play in the group stage.

Mario Gomez led the line for Die Roten tonight against Cluj, and made a massive impact for the Bavarian outfit who have been depleted in terms of attacking options with Ivica Olic ruled out for six months. Gomez hit his first of the evening after just twelve minutes, when Andreas Ottl’s shot was deflected into the striker’s patch just three yards from goal. Gomez’s second came on 25 minutes, when Bastian Schweinsteiger, who was playing a much more advanced position than usual, headed a pass into Gomez’s path, and the striker dispatched it at the back post. Gomez scored his second hat-trick of the season when, on 70 minutes, Bastian Schweinsteiger put Gomez through and the striker slipped it past Stancioiu in the Cluj goal. Thomas Mueller put the icing on the cake just minutes before time after a ball from Hamit Altintop.

It’s another big win for Bayern Munich, and another that’ll ease the pressure in the camp. The goals have certainly begun to flow, and if Bayern Munich can keep this kind of form up, the Bundesliga will once again be theirs to defend. With Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Ivica Olic all out, Bayern Munich have been forced to perform under rough circumstances. When those three players do return, Bayern Munich will be firing on all cylinders, and it’ll be just in time too. Youngsters Breno, Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller are new contributors to the side, and Anatoliy Tymoschuk has found a new role in a side that he rarely featured in last season. Now, let’s remember, last season Bayern Munich reached the Champions League final, and did a domestic double in the Bundesliga. This season, while they are currently without a few key players, they have got a few different elements in the side that have given them an extra dimension. Bastian Schweinsteiger has matured into one of the top midfielders in the world, Mario Gomez is finally coming into fruition, and Bayern’s youngsters have begun to step up to the plate.

Bayern Munich will still need to catch Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga table, who hold a ten point lead over the reigning champions.