The title favourites were without talisman Harry Kane, who was left out of the team for the match.

Initial reports suggested he was just being rested but it has since come to light that the England international suffered a calf strain and may also miss their mid-week trip to Atalanta in the Champions League.

Despite Kane's absence, the Bavarians got off to a strong start and thought they had taken the lead through Lennart Karl in the 10th minute but it was ruled out because the young winger was caught offside.

After being camped inside Monchengladbach's half for the first half hour of the game, they managed to break the deadlock through a lovely Luis Diaz volley in the 33rd minute.

The chances came thick and fast for the Bavarians after the opening goal, with Nicolas Jackson going close before Konrad Laimer doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time with a powerful close-range finish.

The visitors began the second half strongly but were unable to convert the early pressure into a goal before Jamal Musiala made it 3-0 from the penalty spot in the 57th minute.

Jackson eventually managed to get on the scoresheet as well when he deflected a Karl cross into the back of the net in the 79th minute.

Gladbach grabbed a late consolation goal through Wael Mohya in the 89th minute to give the scoreline a measure of respectability but it did not take away from another emphatic display by Bayern Munich.

Elsewhere in the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund kept the gap between themselves and Bayern to 11 points with a 2-1 win over FC Koln.

Serhou Guirassy opened the scoring in the 16th minute with Maximilian Beier doubling their advantage on the hour mark. Jakub Kaminski pulled one back for Koln in the 88th minute but it proved to be too little, too late.

Wolfsburg's hopes of avoiding relegation took a knock with a 2-1 defeat to HSV at the Volkswagen Arena.

Christian Eriksen gave the home side the lead from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute, but HSV answered back with a couple of penalties of their own through Luka Vuskovic (33' pen) and Jean-Luc Dompe (58' pen).

SC Freiburg and Bayer Leverkusen played out to a thrilling 3-3 draw at Europa Park Stadion.

Vincenzo Grifo opened the scoring in the 34th minute before Christian Kofane levelled just three minutes later.

Yuito Suzuki restored their advantage in the 43rd minute, with Leverkusen striking back within minutes again, this time through Alejandro Grimaldo three minutes into first-half stoppage time.

Martin Terrier gave the visitors their first lead of the game in the 52nd minute when he made it 3-2, which they held all the way until the 86th minute when Matthias Ginter rescued a point for Freiburg.

RB Leipzig needed a late Arthur Chaves own goal to secure a 2-1 win over Augsburg at the Red Bull Arena.

The visitors took the lead through Robin Fellhauer in the 39th minute, with Yan Diomande restoring parity in the 76th minute before Chaves own goal two minutes into stoppage time decided the result.

Mainz 05 and Stuttgart played out a 2-2 draw at MEWA Arena. Jae-Sung Lee opened the scoring in the 39th minute before a two-minute double salvo by Ermedin Demirovic (76') and Deniz Undav (77') flipped the script, with Danny da Costa scoring a late equaliser to rescue a point for Mainz.

Hoffenheim overcame Heidenheim 4-2 in a thrilling encounter at the Voith Arena.

Alexander Prass opened the scoring in the 26th minute and completed his brace on the stroke of half-time to double Hoffenheim's advantage.

Fisnik Asllani made it 3-0 four minutes after half-time before Luca Kerber managed to pull one back for Heidenheim in the 62nd minute.

Tim Leperle restored the visitor's three-goal advantage with his 78th-minute strike before Kerber completed his brace and the scoring with a goal in the 84th minute.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery looking forward to 'special' Villa Park occasion against Bayern Munich