Bayern steamroller continues at Hertha

Arjen Robben scored a hat-trick as Bayern Munich hammered Hertha Berlin to remain in touch with Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund. After scoring 14 goals in their previous two games at home to Hoffenheim and Basle, Bayern took their tally to a staggering 20 in three as Hertha meekly succumbed on home soil. Thomas Muller made it 1-0 in the ninth minute before Robben opened his account three minutes later and then added another from the penalty spot in the 19th minute. Mario Gomez converted another penalty to make it 4-0 in the 50th minute before Toni Kroos struck a minute later and Robben completed his treble with another penalty midway through the second period. The win means Bayern remain second in the standings on 54 points - five behind Dortmund - while Hertha stay mired in the relegation zone after just one win in their last 15 games. Before the rout began, Hertha had a shout for a penalty in the eighth minute when David Alaba challenged Nikita Rukavytsya in the box but referee Tobias Welz was unmoved. Merciless Munich Bayern took the lead a minute later with Muller turning in Franck Ribery's pass from eight yards, while three minutes later it was two when Robben ran at the home defence before finishing with a powerful effort. The Dutchman made it 3-0 after 19 minutes from the penalty spot, converting into the right corner after Christoph Janker fouled Muller. Bayern were four goals to the good in the 50th minute when Gomez got in on the action from the penalty spot after Alfredo Morales felled Ribery in the area. Kroos joined the scoring list a minute later, volleying home a loose ball after goalkeeper Sascha Burchert blocked Robben's initial attempt. Robben completed his hat-trick after 67 minutes, again from the spot after Morales fouled Ribery for a second time. Bayern pushed forward looking for their third straight seven-goal showing but the Hertha defence held strong for the final 23 minutes.