Yet their nearest pursuers RB Leipzig are not giving up the hunt, earning a remarkable 3-2 comeback win in the 93rd minute at home to Borussia Monchengladbach in Saturday's late game to remain just two points behind the champions.

Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund earned a second consecutive triumph, 3-0 over Arminia Bielefeld, to boost their Champions League qualification hopes .

But bottom of the table Schalke suffered another debacle as they were crushed 5-1 by VfB Stuttgart and missed a penalty amid a coaching debate.

In Munich, Bayern, celebrating their foundation on February 27, 1900, went ahead through Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's first goal for the club.

Robert Lewandowski, almost inevitably, then doubled their lead from one of Leon Goretzka's three assists on the day.

Cologne pulled one back right after the break through Ellyes Skhiri but substitute Thomas Muller, recovered from his coronavirus infection, fed Lewandowski for his 28th league goal before Serge Gnabry also got a brace to seal the comprehensive win.

With 11 league games remaining, the 32-year-old Lewandowski is still on target to break Gerd Muller's record of 40 Bundesliga goals in a season, set nearly half a century ago in in 1972.

Bayern had been held by Arminia Bielefeld and lost at Eintracht Frankfurt in their last two matches, allowing Leipzig to close the gap.

Yet when they went two down to Gladbach through Jonas Hofmann's penalty and Marcus Thuram's 19th minute second, it looked as if Bayern's five-point lead might stick.

But Christopher Nkunku in the 57th minute and Yussuf Poulsen nine minutes later levelled things for Leipzig.

After a few superb saves from Gladbach keeper Yann Sommer, Leipzig were then rewarded in the final minute of added time as Alexander Sorloth sealed the victory.

Dortmund ran out easy winners once Mahmoud Dahoud scored for them soon after halftime. Jadon Sancho converted a penalty 10 minutes later and Brazilian midfielder Reinier scored his first Bundesliga goal.

Schalke were busy dismissing news reports that players have called for coach Christian Gross to be dismissed before the team suffered a latest setback in Stuttgart where they quickly trailed 3-0.

Elsewhere, third-placed Wolfsburg beat Hertha Berlin 2-0 thanks to an own goal by Lukas Kluenter and a late goal by Maxence Lacroix.

Australian Associated Press