Munich, Dec 15 (AP) Serge Gnabry scored a hat trick as Bayern Munich stretched its lead in the Bundesliga to nine points with a 5-0 hammering of Stuttgart.

Stuttgart survived an early string of chances for Bayern to score, and even created a couple of its own, before Gnabry curled the ball into the top-right corner in the 40th minute to open the scoring on Tuesday.

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Thomas Muller set up Gnabry for a second goal just after halftime before a run of three goals in five minutes finished off Stuttgart.

Robert Lewandowski chipped the ball over the goalkeeper in the 69th before tapping in a Gnabry cross three minutes later.

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Soon after, Gnabry completed his hat trick when a cross from Muller was palmed into his path by the keeper.

Stuttgart stays 15th after a defeat which brought Pellegrino Matarazzo's team back down to earth following a 2-0 upset win over Wolfsburg on Saturday.

The game was played in an empty stadium because of state-level restrictions following a rise in coronavirus cases. (AP)

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