Borussia Moenchengladbach’s 1-1 draw at home to FSV Mainz 05 on Sunday meant defending champions Bayern Munich finished the weekend four points clear in the Bundesliga.
An early strike by Germany squad member Max Kruse for die Fohlen at Borussia Park was cancelled out by a dubious first-half penalty, converted by midfielder Jonas Hofmann.
Referee Manuel Graefe awarded Mainz a spot-kick after the ball clipped the hand of Borussia defender Julian Korb from a cross and Hofmann, who is on loan from Borussia Dortmund, converted the penalty.
Photo: EPA
Hosts ’Gladbach were denied a late winner by a goal-mouth scramble and the single point left them third, missing out on the chance to reclaim second place from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, who beat Schalke 04 2-1 on Saturday.
The result in Moenchengladbach means Pep Guardiola’s Bayern now have a significant lead over the chasing pack after their 4-0 romp over Hannover 96 on Saturday at Munich’s Allianz Arena. Striker Robert Lewandowski and Arjen Robben both netted twice and Bayern dominated, despite having Thomas Mueller and World Cup winner Mario Goetze on the bench, plus Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger injured.
Pep Guardiola’s high-flying Bayern have now gone seven games without conceding a goal.
In contrast, Borussia Dortmund’s dramatic domestic slump continued as they dropped to 13th in the table after their 1-0 defeat at home to Hamburg SV and are winless in their last four league games.
Ten-man Schalke also suffered an afternoon to forget after drawing 1-1 with Maribor in the Champions League on Wednesday as they went down 2-1 at Hoffenheim, who moved up to second in the table.
Schalke finished with 10 men after Cameroon’s Joel Matip was shown a second yellow and subsequent red, before Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored a late consolation goal.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen dropped to fourth after drawing 2-2 at home to 10-man SC Paderborn 07.
Eintracht Frankfurt moved up to fifth with a 3-2 comeback win at home to Cologne as captain Alexander Maier scored twice before an own-goal by Cologne goalkeeper Timo Horn sealed the win, which leaves Eintracht unbeaten in their past four games. Werder Bremen took Hamburg’s place at the bottom of the Bundesliga in 18th place after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to SC Freiburg, who are 15th, just out of the relegation places.
VfL Wolfsburg are seventh after defender Naldo sealed a 1-0 win over Augsburg on Sunday.
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