Bayern Munich were unaffected by heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures as they beat hosts Hertha Berlin 1-0 to go 10 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga Friday with their fifth consecutive league victory.
French winger Kingsley Coman scored the winner with a deflected shot from the edge of the box in the 21st minute with the ball flying over goalkeeper Rune Jarstein, who had earlier saved a penalty from Robert Lewandowski.
Bayern are now on 48 points, ahead of second-placed RB Leipzig, who travel to bottom side Schalke 04 Saturday.
It was a successful dress rehearsal for Bayern, who left for sunny Qatar and the Club World Cup later Friday.
The will face Egypt's Al Ahly in the semi-final as they look to win their sixth trophy in less than 10 months and match Barcelona's tally from 2009.
Hertha, without a win in their last six league games, looked far sharper in coach Pal Dardai's second game in charge and Dodi Lukebakio came agonizingly close after three minutes only to be denied by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's foot.
The visitors responded with a chance of their own and Leroy Sane's effort was saved by Jarstein.
VfL Wolfsburg battled past Schalke 04 1-0 on Wednesday to reach the German Cup quarter-finals along with RB Leipzig, who crushed second division VfL Bochum 4-0 with a double from Yussuf Poulsen.
Posted by Sports Tribune on Wednesday, 3 February 2021
With the snowfall getting heavier the Hertha keeper brought Sane down in the box but quickly made amends, picking the right corner to block Lewandowski's 12th-minute spot kick, the first penalty miss for the Pole since January 2019.
Lewandowski, who has scored 24 times in his pursuit of Gerd Mueller's 40-goal league record from the 1971/72 season, had netted in the previous nine consecutive league games.
Thomas Mueller fed Coman for the winner almost 10 minutes later as the German became the first player in the league this season with double digits for goals and assists - 10 apiece.
Bayern kept up the pressure after the break and Serge Gnabry forced another good save from 36-year old Jarstein.
The Norwegian keeper has now started both games since Dardai's return to Hertha.
The hosts had one last glorious chance to equalize a minute from the end when Matheus Cunha chipped the ball over Neuer but his effort went just wide of the goal.
Struggling Hertha are in 15th place on 17 points.
