体坛英语新闻：Bayern march on, Leipzig win in German Bundesliga

BERLIN, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Bayern Munich continue their relentless run atop the standings after crushing Augsburg 6-0 meanwhile runner up Leipzig eased 4-0 past last-placed Darmstadt at the 26th round in Bundesliga on Saturday.

The front-runners showed no mercy with Augsburg as Robert Lewandowski provided a hat-trick and two assists to smooth the way for the 6-0 victory on home soil.

Carlo Ancelotti's men wasted no time and pressed the visitors into the defence. It took them only 17 minutes before the German record champions opened the scoring as Thiago Alcantara's through ball allowed Lewandowski to tap home from close range.

Thomas Mueller almost doubled the lead after rattling the left post in the 28th minute. The German international was successful eight minutes later as he made it two following Lewandowski's assist.

Augsburg were unable to put up resistance meanwhile the hosts kept it bowling to triple the lead ten minutes into the second half. Franck Ribery passed into the path of Lewandowski, who beat Augsburg goalie Marwin Hitz into the bottom left.

The Polish international remained in the thick of things as his back-heel pass allowed Alcantara to extend the lead at the near post with 62 minutes played.

Lewandowski wasn't done with the scoring as he reaped his hat-trick after heading home Mueller's assist from very close range in the 79th minute. It was Lewandowski's 24th goal in his 26th Bundesliga appearance this season.

Mueller sewed up his brace and ensured the 6-0 victory after making use of Jerome Boateng's cross into the box with ten minutes to play.

With the result, Bayern secured the fifth straight win in the league to tighten their top spot in the standings with 65 points. Meanwhile, Augsburg slipped from the 14th to the 16th place, which is a relegation play off spot.

Second placed Leipzig defend their position in the standings as Naby Keita's brace helped the "Bulls" to cruise 4-0 past bottom dwelling Darmstadt.

Leipzig caught a bright start on home soil as Naby Keita broke the deadlock with 12 minutes into the encounter when he volleyed home a clearance from inside the box.

Despite the setback Darmstadt tried to restore parity but neither Sidney Sam nor Fabian Holland were able to make the most of their promising opportunities.

Ralph Hasenhuettl's men punished Darmstadt's wastefulness as Emil Forsberg drilled the ball from the edge of the box into the bottom right to double the lead in the 67th minute.

The hosts put the result beyond doubt in the 79th minute when Willi Orban headed home a corner before Keita sealed his brace and the 4-0 victory moments later.

With the 16th win of the season, Leipzig consolidated their second place with 52 points whereas last-placed Darmstadt suffered the 19th loss of the season.

Elsewhere, third-placed Dortmund were held to a 1-1 draw by rivals Schalke at the 171st "Revierderby".

Hamburg craved out a last-grasp victory as Lewis Holtby's late strike downed Cologne 2-1.

Werder Bremen upset Freiburg 5-2 thanks to the brace from Thomas Delaney and Frankfurt shared the spoils with Monchengladbach following a goalless draw.

The following games are conclude the 26th round on Sunday: Ingolstadt see Mainz and Bayer Leverkusen encounter Wolfsburg.