Bayern Munich tore Bochum apart to move to their highest Bundesliga position since the end of last season.

Mario Gomez put Louis van Gaal's side ahead in the 23rd minute at the Ruhr Stadion with an own goal from Mergim Mavraj helping them on their way to victory 10 minutes later.

Ivica Olic scored his first of the game in the 43rd minute before adding his second and Bayern's fourth in the 50th minute before Danijel Pranjic wrapped up the win just five minutes later.

Christian Fuchs scored little more than a consolation for Bochum in the 76th minute as they became the latest side to be beaten by a rejuvenated Bayern, who moved up to second in the table as a result, although Werder Bremen or Schalke could go back above them if there is a winner in their Saturday evening clash.

Bayern were searching for their fifth straight win in all competitions and a result which would take them to within two points of league leaders Bayer Leverkusen with one game to go before the midway stage of the season.

Van Gaal's side looked full of confidence after their Champions League victory over Juventus in midweek and they showed no mercy on their hosts.

Gomez put them ahead in the 23rd minute with a header from six yards out as he met a cross from his strike partner Olic.

The form of Olic and Gomez in recent weeks has been the key to Bayern's excellent recent run and the pair were terrorising the Bochum defence.

Gomez's cross in search of Olic was put into his own goal by Mavraj in the 33rd minute to double Bayern's advantage before the Croatia forward got on the scoresheet 10 minutes later, this time meeting a Bastian Schweinsteiger cross.

Olic added his second and Bayern's fourth just five minutes into the second half when he again showed his predatory instinct to meet Holger Badstuber's cross and head unstoppably past Philipp Heerwagen.

Pranjic made it five shortly afterwards with another goal coming from a cross.

This time, it was Philipp Lahm who drove into the penalty area before squaring the ball for Pranjic to blast it into the roof of the net from eight yards out.

It could have been worse for Bochum when Arjen Robben brought a fine save out of Heerwagen, and the home side then got a consolation with Fuchs' direct free-kick beating Hans-Jorg Butt in the 76th minute.