Bundesliga Recap: Hernandez hat-trick sinks Gladbach

Bayer Leverkusen produced a magnificent second-half
display with Javier Hernandez's 13-minute hat-trick
downing Borussia Monchengladbach. Photo: Filed.

Javier Hernandez scored a hat-trick as Bayer Leverkusen
hammered Borussia Monchengladbach 5-0 in Saturday's
Bundesliga encounter at the BayArena.

Stefan Kiessling opened the scoring with a first-half header
before setting up the Mexican for his opening goal of the night in
the 63rd minute.

The German added his second moments later, but Hernandez
quickly stole the show with two goals in as many minutes to
take his tally to 15 goals in his last 12 games in all
competitions.

Former Manchester United striker Hernandez showed great
agility to create space and stab home his second and was in the
right place at the right time soon after to convert from Karim
Bellarabi's cross and complete a 13-minute hat-trick.

Andre Schubert's side were unable to replicate the display that
saw them beat Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich 3-1 last
weekend, and Pep Guardiola's men once again found the going
tough against Ingolstadt.

However, second-half goals from Robert Lewandowski and
Philipp Lahm downed Ralph Hasenhuttl's courageous side and
ensured their place at the top of the table during the mid-season
break.

Gladbach's defeat, combined with Wolfsburg's 1-1 draw at
home to Hamburg, offered Hertha Berlin the chance to move
into the top three.

Pal Dardai's side obliged in emphatic fashion, with Vedad
Ibisevic scoring either side of a brilliant 25-yard free-kick from
Marvin Plattenhardt in a 4-0 victory away at Darmstadt.

Hoffenheim survived an early scare when Ceyhun Gulselam hit
the bar for Hannover to move off the foot of the table,
leapfrogging Stuttgart who drew against Mainz on Friday, as
Jonathan Schmid's header earned just their second victory of
the campaign and their first under Huub Stevens.

Former Cologne striker Anthony Ujah missed a penalty for
Werder Bremen as both sides saw their winless runs in the
Bundesliga extend to four games with a 1-1 draw at the
Weserstadion.