This hat-trick brings the Pole's total to 300 goals in the German league (including 74 with Dortmund at the start of his career).

He remains the second top scorer in the history of the Bundesliga behind the legendary Gerd Müller (365 goals).

Corentin Tolisso scored the other goal for the Bavarians who, with 46 points in 19 days, look down on their pursuers: Dortmund (40 pts), Hoffenheim, Union Berlin (31 pts) and Freiburg (30 pts).

Saturday evening, Leverkusen (29 pts) can get on the podium if they win in Mönchengladbach (6:30 p.m.).

The defending champions, who had recovered several of their players affected by Covid-19 in early January, including their goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer, did not outclass "FC Köln" in the game, but were precise, fast , and above all realistic.

"After our defeat against Mönchengladbach (2-1), it was important for us to bring back three points from this trip," Neuer said after the match, played in front of 750 spectators, due to health restrictions.

Lewandowski, in his more surgical than flamboyant style, scored three identical goals: launched deep into the area - by Thomas Müller then twice by Leroy Sané - he beat the goalkeeper each time face to face (9th , 62nd, 74th).

Bayern Munich's Polish striker Robert Lewandowski scores the third goal against goalkeeper Marvin Schwaebe during the 19th day of the Bundesliga on January 15, 2022 in Cologne Ina Fassbender AFP

Tolisso revived

The Pole alone has scored 23 of Bayern's 61 league goals this season.

He is not only on track with his incredible record from last season, which he finished with 41 goals in 34 matchdays, but he is also at the top of the ranking of top scorers in major European leagues, followed by a long way by Karim Benzema. (Real Madrid) and his 17 La Liga goals.

Corentin Tolisso scored a superb second goal (25th), after a one-two in the box with Thomas Müller: control from the right and volley from the left into the top corner.

The French world champion, put back in the saddle by the long absence of Joshua Kimmich in November/December and now the knee injury of Leon Goretzka, takes advantage of his playing time to win from match to match, while observers had been on the list of players for sale by the Bavarian club for more than a year.

Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann congratulates French midfielder Corentin Tolisso, scorer of the 2nd goal, during the 19th day of the Bundesliga, January 15, 2022 on the ground of Cologne Ina Fassbender AFP

In the other matches this Saturday, Union Berlin did a great job by beating third-placed Hoffenheim 2-1.

In front of 3,000 spectators, by special authorization from the senate (city council) of Berlin, the players of the capital are provisionally fourth (on goal difference), potentially qualified for the Champions League.

Friday evening, Borussia Dortmund had demonstrated that it did not intend to abdicate in its fight to prevent Bayern from going to pick up a tenth consecutive title.

Outside, Borussia ripped SC Freiburg to pieces 5-1, with doubles from Thomas Meunier and the inevitable Erling Haaland.

© 2022 AFP