Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich are ten points clear, and on the verge of an historic fourth straight Bundesliga title, after Robert Lewandowski netted twice in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Schalke.
With second-placed Borussia Dortmund hosting bogey side Hamburg on Sunday, Pep Guardiola’s Bayern took the chance to extend their lead at Munich’s Allianz Arena.
With four league games left and depending on other results, Bayern could be confirmed as the first club to win four straight German league titles when they host Borussia Moechengladbach in a fortnight.
Guardiola can sign off his three years in Munich with the treble.
Bayern face Bremen in the German Cup semi-finals on Tuesday and have drawn Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
After a disjointed first-half display in Munich, Bayern went up a gear after the break.
Arturo Vidal’s header was chested down by Lewandowski, who turned and hit the back of the net on 54 minutes.
The Poland hot-shot headed home his 27th league goal of the season on 65 minutes to leave him as the Bundesliga’s top scorer, four ahead of Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Vidal added Bayern’s third when he tapped home after some superb individual skills from Franck Ribery who jinxed his way through the Schalke defence before providing the final pass.
Earlier, Bayer Leverkusen climbed to third, and are on course for a direct Champions League place next season, after their 3-0 win over strugglers Eintracht Frankfurt.
Kevin Kampl gave Bayer the lead on 70 minutes, just 43 seconds after coming off the bench for Leverkusen’s top scorer, Javier Hernandez, who limped off after pulling up with an injury.
Julian Brandt and Germany winger Karim Bellarabi then added further goals to leave Frankfurt second from bottom.
Leverkusen claim third from Hertha Berlin, who dropped one place after their 2-1 defeat at Hoffenheim.
Hertha, who are bidding for a first Champions League place since the 1999/2000 season, are winless in their last three games.
Hoffenheim earned the win when Mark Uth headed home at the far post to move his side up to 13th — three points above the relegation places.
Four days after their Champions League quarter-final exit at the hands of Real Madrid, Wolfsburg lost again when they went down 3-2 at relegation-threatened Werder Bremen.
Having lost 3-0 in Madrid, Wolfsburg were well beaten as Claudio Pizarro scored his 102nd goal for Bremen, to become the club’s all-time top scorer, by converting a first-half penalty.
Wolfsburg’s France midfielder Josuha Guilavogui equalised before the break, but Bremen netted goals from Fin Bartels and Mali midfielder Sambou Yatabare.
Wolfsburg’s director of sport Klaus Allofs was dismissed to the stands early in the second half after arguing with the fourth official.
The visitors pulled a late goal back when Dutch striker Bas Dost powered a header home, but Wolfsburg stay eighth.
Despite the win, Bremen are in the relegation play-off place, but just three points from 11th place as things remain tight at the bottom.
Augsburg stayed just above the relegation places with a 1-0 win at home to VfB Stuttgart.
Mid-table Darmstadt enjoyed a 2-0 win over Ingolstadt, while on Friday bottom side Hanover 96 enjoyed a 2-0 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach, but remain 12 points from safety.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.