BERLIN: Bayern Munich returned to the top of the Bundesliga for the first time since September after a crushing 6-0 win over Wolfsburg.

Their goal spree was enough to move top on goal difference above long-term leaders Borussia Dortmund, who beat Stuttgart 3-1.

Robert Lewandowski became the highest-scoring foreigner in Bundesliga history with two goals. The Poland international added a late second to take his Bundesliga tally to 197 goals.

Former Arsenal forward Serge Gnabry opened the scoring for Bayern, before setting up Lewandowski’s first and recordbreaking goal.

It was an emphatic statement of intent from Niko Kovac’s men ahead of the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Liverpool on Wednesday.

James Rodriguez fired a third from the edge of the box in the 52nd minute. Further goals from Thomas Muller, Joshua Kimmich and Lewandowski’s second sealed the commanding victory.

Dortmund struggled to shrug off their Champions League exit to Tottenham as they needed two late goals to see off Stuttgart. Marco Reus put the home side in front from the penalty spot but Dortmund’s lead was cancelled out by Marc-Oliver Kempf’s 71st-minute equaliser.

Paco Alcacer rescued Dortmund by firing them back in front in the 84th minute and Christian Pulisic made sure of the points in added time.

In Spain . . .

Barcelona came from a goal down to defeat struggling Rayo Vallecano 3-1 and restore their seven-point lead at the top of La Liga.

On-loan Real Madrid striker Raul De Tomas opened the scoring for Rayo, who have now lost six straight league games but Gerard Pique equalised before half-time and the hosts scored twice more in the second half through a Lionel Messi penalty and Luis Suarez.

Barca came into the match on the back of league and cup wins over Real Madrid and with coach Ernesto Valverde warning they needed to focus on this encounter ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Lyons.

The Catalan giants were held to a goalless draw in the first leg of their last-16 clash in France but they had domestic matters on their mind after Atletico Madrid earlier narrowed the gap at the top of the league to four points with the 1-0 defeat of Leganes. They rested regular starters ahead of its Champions League match at Juventus on Tuesday, when it will look to defend a 2-0 first-leg win.

Substitute Saul Niguez scored the sole goal against Leganes in the 50th minute, when he finished off the rebound of his own penalty kick that was initially saved by goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.

Coach Diego Simeone did not start first-choice players Niguez, Alvaro Morata, Thomas Lemar and Juanfran Torres, while Diego Godin and Koke both served suspensions. Diego Costa, Filipe Luis and Lucas Hernandez were out injured.

In Italy . . .

Krzysztof Piatek fired a 57th-minute winner as AC Milan made hard work of beating bottom club Chievo to claim their fifth straight Serie A win. Piatek stretched to shoot past Stefano Sorrentino from close range for a 2-1 win which ensured his side would strengthen their grip on third place.

Lucas Biglia had given Milan a 31st-minute lead but the hosts, without a win in their previous seven games, equalised 10 minutes later through an impressive header from Perparim Hetemaj.

Parma ended a run of six games without a win as a 78th-minute strike from Juraj Kucka gave them a 1-0 victory over Genoa. The former Genoa midfielder got the final touch after a wild goalmouth scramble in which the ball bounced back off the woodwork twice.

The result ended Genoa’s six-game unbeaten run and moved Parma up to 11th place in the Serie A table.

In France . . .

Lyon showed their best and worst sides as they squandered a two-goal lead in a 2-2 Ligue 1 draw at Strasbourg ahead of their Champions League clash with Barcelona.

Moussa Dembele’s double was cancelled out in the space of 103 seconds in the second half when Ludovic Ajorque also scored twice after Lyons lost centre back Marcelo to a thigh injury.

Coach Bruno Genesio said: “We will review the situation tomorrow. Marcelo will undergo checks to determine the nature of his injury. His absence [against Barcelona] is not certain yet.”

The result put third-placed Lyon on 50 points from 28 games, four behind second-placed Lille, who could open a seven-point gap when they play at Saint-Etienne.

Monaco, who had picked up 11 points from five games with coach Leonardo Jardim on the bench since his return in January, were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Bordeaux. Radamel Falcao headed home after the break for his 62nd goal in 100 Ligue 1 games but Bordeaux hit back with a Jimmy Briand penalty. Monaco are 17th on 27 points, six points above the relegation zone.

################