Goals from Robert Lewandowski, David Alaba and Franck Ribery secured Bayern Munich's passage into the DFB Pokal third round, with a 1-3 win over HSV. Pierre-Michel Lasogga netted late on, but it was merely a consolation.

Hamburg made two changes to their devastating 3-0 defeat to Hertha Berlin, just when it looked like Josef Zinnbauer was turning them around. Despite the loss, he was given the job on a contract until 2016; Rafael van der Vaart and Valon Behrami were rested, allowing Lewis Holtby and Petr Jiracek to take their place in the starting eleven.

For Bayern Munich, things were going fantastically. However, the weekend draw in Mönchengladbach was evidence that events, at least domestically, may not have be the walk in the park some had eluded too. It was a largely similar side that carved out a nil-nil with their nearest rivals, though Mehdi Benatia and Mario Götze did not feature; they were replaced by Jerome Boateng and Franck Ribery.

While they couldn't find their scoring touch on Sunday, Robert Lewandowski had the visitors a goal up within the first ten minutes. A catastrophic back-pass from Heiko Westermann allowed Rafinha to set-up the Pole, a brilliant, sliding clearance sparred the defender's blushes the first time; but it fell straight back to Lewandowski and he emphatically smashed home the rebound.

Bayern were in absolute control and with HSV slightly crest-fallen, they continued to press forward. Ashton Götz saw yellow, as Thomas Müller tormented him from the very first whistle. 'Raumdeuter' thought he'd added a second goal, only for the linesman to flag for offside. It was a late, late call, yet the correct one, a call that HSV's dismal attempts at defending did not deserve.

Bayern's pressing was really taking it's toll on the Hamburg players, who were failing to string together any passing moves. Philipp Lahm was close to doubling the Bavarians' lead in the minutes before half-time, but Jaroslav Drobny produced a top stop to preserve the deficit. That was until Xabi Alonso found David Alaba, who sent a thirty-five yard strike towards goal that dipped, swerved and curved to leave the Czech 'stopper wondering what was going on. Drobny did manage to get a hand to it, but it was a special strike and one deserving of a goal.

The second half was a continuation of the first, as the hosts struggled to get to grips with the game. The third goal had a massive slice of luck, although some will say Franck Ribery's run was worthy of a goal in itself. The Frenchman cut inside, dazzled and danced past his opponents, before striking a powerful shot toward goal. The ball deceived Drobny yet again, this time it was because of heavy deflection off Johan Djourou that sent him the wrong way completely.

Pressure continued to pile on the Dinosaurs' goal, with little time for rest or reprieve for their goalkeeper. If anyone were to come out of the game, head held high, it would be Drobny. The two world class saves from Ribery and Lewandowski's efforts were quite remarkable. Chance after chance went begging, until HSV took a chance of their own. Nicolai Müller slipped through Rafael van der Vaart, he rescued what seemed to be a lost cause and crossed for Pierre-Michel Lasogga to nod home in front of an open goal.

Drobny continued to make an abundance of wonderful saves, but the result was sealed well before his heroics. Bayern progressed with a 1-3 win, yet it could easily have been so much more. It's a great confidence booster ahead of der Klassiker, they'll know that it'll be a much tougher task on Saturday evening. Hamburg will take heart from a much improved second half, even though they were cut apartat times, the Northerners didn't oblige by helping FCB along the way. A home game against Bayer Leverkusen awaits, not what Zinnbauer needed, nevertheless it'll be one HSV will want to give their best in.