Bayern München are getting closer to another Bundesliga title after edging RasenBallsport Leipzig in a game which was tipped to be a title decider as the teams squared off at the Red Bull Arena.
With four points separating them and Robert Lewandowski picking up an injury during the international break, there was plenty to play for with Bayern leading the title race in first and Leipzig just behind them in second.
Lewandowski was replaced with Eric Maxim Choupo Mouting coming into the side and Bayern took the lead on 38 minutes through Leon Goretzka who scored his fifth goal of the campaign. Goretzka’s goal could well turn out to be Bayern’s most important goal this season as it proved the difference between the sides. Bayern München moved seven points clear at the top of the standings with the win, while Leipzig remain in second place.
While the Bayern result may have been forecast, the result from the Borussia Dortmund – Eintracht Frankfurt game was certainly not. Frankfurt took the lead through a bit of luck as Nico Schulz scored an own goal in the 11th minute. Dortmund leveled just before halftime as captain Mats Hummels equalised for his side.
However, there was late drama as André Silva netted his 22nd goal of the season in the 87th minute to shockingly hand Frankfurt all three points. The 1-2 loss has added to doubts about Dortmund’s qualification for the UEFA Champions League next season.
VfL Wolfsburg continued to plead their cause for Champions League football next season after defeating 1. FC Köln by a lone goal.
Josip Brekalo scored nine minutes after the hour mark to help Wolfsburg remain third on the log and 11 points clear off the Europa League places.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen defeated Schalke 04 2-1 at the BayArena. Goals from Lucas Alario and Patrik Schick on 26 and 72 minutes respectively was enough to leave Klaas-Jan Huntelaar’s goal as a mere consolation. Schalke’s poor form continued with yet another loss as they look condemned to be relegated by the end of the season.
Borussia Mönchengladbach leaped to seventh thanks to a Marcus Thuram-inspired comeback 2-1 triumph over SC Freiburg.
Freiburg took the lead in the opening 10 minutes through Roland Sallai but Marcus Thuram had the final say. Thuram netted twice in the space of seven minutes (53′ and 60′) to single-handedly give Mönchengladbach three points as they moved within four points off the European places. Thuram’s goals can be seen here.
Goals from Ruben Vargas and André Hahn helped FC Augsburg beat 1899 Hoffenheim by two goals to one.
Robert Skov netted for Hoffenheim in the 85th minute but it was not enough as they could not find the back of the net again.
1. FSV Mainz 05 and Arminia Bielefeld settled for a one-all draw at the Opel Arena after Andreas Voglsammer of Bielefeld cancelled out Daniel Brosinski’s opener for Mainz.
Results:
FSV Mainz 05 1 – 1 Arminia Bielefeld
FC Augsburg 2 – 1 1899 Hoffenheim
VfL Wolfsburg 1 – 0 1. FC KölnBayer
04 Leverkusen 2 – 1 FC Schalke 04
Borussia Dortmund 1 – 2 Eintracht Frankfurt
RB Leipzig 0 – 1 Bayern München
Borussia Mönchengladbach 2 – 1 SC Freiburg
