Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich were made to work hard before eventually cruising to a 4-0 victory at Augsburg on Saturday while Borussia Dortmund lost 1-0 at Hertha Berlin to slip back into the bottom three.

Augsburg, who ended Bayern's record 53-game unbeaten run in the league last season, battled hard before eventually succumbing to second half goals from Medhi Benatia, Arjen Robben and Robert Lewandowski.

Bayern now lead the table by 10 points from Wolfsburg, who host Paderborn on Sunday.

In the capital, Hertha Berlin had Julian Schieber's goal to thank for victory over his former club Borussia Dortmund. Juergen Klopp's side fall to 16th as Freiburg's goalless draw at home to SV Hamburg lifted them up one place.

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In the other matches Hanover drew 3-3 away to Werder Bremen while Cologne claimed a 2-1 victory at Schalke.

Bayern Munich endured a frustrating first 55 minutes against Augsburg as home keeper Alex Manninger made a string of fine saves to deny Franck Ribery, Xabi Alonso and Robben.

But when Benatia rose highest in the box to glance home Ribery's free-kick, Bayern had made the crucial breakthrough and never looked back.

Just three minutes later Robben was given too much space on the edge of the box and he found the net with a curling shot off the post which left Manninger helpless.

Augsburg began to tire in the last 20 minutes and further strikes from Lewandowski and Robben added a slightly harsh reflection to the scoreline.

In Berlin, Dortmund's mini-revival came shuddering to a halt as they produced a poor performance against Hertha.

Jakub Blaszczykowski lost the ball too easily in midfield in the 40th minute and Schieber scored the only goal of the contest having turned Sebastian Kehl and Australian keeper Mitchell Langerak inside out.

Langerak made a brilliant save to prevent Roy Beerens from doubling the lead but Dortmund rarely found their rhythm going forward, with only Ciro Immobile seriously troubling keeper Thomas Kraft.

The Italian international had a powerful volley and looping header well saved but sent a completely free header wide from close range when he should have scored.

Hertha's victory lifts them to 12th but Dortmund return to the bottom three as they have fallen behind Freiburg, who drew 0-0 with Hamburg.

Schalke missed the chance to go third, at least temporarily, with a flat display at home to Cologne just three days after qualifying for the Champions League knock-out phase.

Second half goals from Anthony Ujah and a penalty from Matthias Lehmann gave Cologne the win, despite Leroy Sane's late consolation, which lifted them to 10th.

Later Saturday Mainz host bottom club VfB Stuttgart while Bayer Leverkusen face Borussia Moenchengladbach in the other Sunday game.