Bayern Munich thump Bayer Leverkusen to reach DFB-Pokal final

Bayern Munich have cruised into the final of the DFB-Pokal thanks to a 6-2 hammering of Bayer Leverkusen in Tuesday night's semi-final at the BayArena.

The visitors began brightly and surged into a two-goal lead within the opening 10 minutes of the encounter.

Bernd Leno did well to keep out Thomas Muller's header in the second minute, but Javi Martinez was on hand to rifle the rebound across the box into the opposite corner of the net.

The hosts then conceded their second goal on nine minutes as Franck Ribery charged into the opposition area before lofting the ball to Robert Lewandowski, who duly volleyed home.

Leverkusen halved the deficit on the quarter-hour mark through Lars Bender, who headed the ball beyond Sven Ulreich following a melee in the box.

The first half ended with Bayern narrowly ahead, but Jupp Heynckes's charges delivered another quickfire goal haul after the restart to put them out of reach in the tie.

Muller latched on to Thiago Alcantara's incisive ball over the Leverkusen defence to fire home on 52 minutes and, on the hour, the provider turned scorer by shooting through a crowd of defenders.

Bayern added a fifth moments later, Muller getting the final touch from yet another Ribery delivery, though Leon Bailey grabbed Leverkusen's second via a neat free kick on 72 minutes.

Muller, however, had the final say by sealing his hat-trick on 78 minutes, converting Thiago's free kick with a turn and shot into the right-hand corner of the net for a resounding victory.

Bayern remain on course for the treble, having already sealed the Bundesliga title and preparing to face Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.

BAYER LEVERKUSEN (4-2-3-1): Leno; L. Bender, S. Bender, Tah, Retsos (Bailey 46'); Aranguiz, Baumgartlinger (Alario 61'); Bellarabi (Henrichs 67'), Havertz, Brandt; Volland

BAYERN MUNICH (4-1-2-3): Ulreich; Kimmich, Boateng, Hummels, Alaba (Rafinha 46'); Martinez; Muller (Rodriguez 80'), Alcantara (Sule 85'); Robben, Lewandowski, Ribery