Bayern edge Moenchengladback with 3-1 victory

Dutch Striker Roy Makaay struck a brace as Bayern Munich cruised past Borussia Moenchengladbach 3-1 in the outset of Bundesliga second round action on Friday.

Makaay scored on either side of the interval and Michael Ballack added a goal for Bayern from a free-kick, while Belgian striker Wesley Sonck scored Moenchengladbach’s only goal.

Bayern’s 15th victory from 18 matches stretched their lead to nine points, with a tally of 47 points, ahead of second-place Hamburg SV, who will play against Nuremberg on Saturday.

Makaay connected a deflected shot and fired home past Moenchengladbach goalkeeper Kasey Keller in the 13th to put Bayern in the lead, while Ballack doubled his side’s score after sailing home from a perfect strike made in the 55th minute.

Sonck succeeded in pulling one back only a minute later for Moenchengladback, but Makaay secured Bayern’s victory with an excellent volleyed shot in the 69th minute.