Bayern Munich moved 11 points clear in the Bundesliga on Saturday as Thomas Mueller scored twice in their 3-1 comeback win against Hannover 96.
It was the perfect preparation for Bayern’s Champions League tie with Shakhtar Donetsk as a stunning first-half free-kick by Spain star Xabi Alonso and a Mueller penalty saw Bayern hit back after Japan midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake had given the hosts a shock lead.
It was only the fourth time Bayern had gone behind in Germany’s top tier this season.
Photo: Reuters
Bayern made sure of the win when Franck Ribery’s pinpoint cross was headed home by Mueller on 72 minutes.
The Bavarian giants extended their lead after second-placed VfL Wolfsburg lost 1-0 to Augsburg after midfielder Dominik Kohr converted a second-half penalty.
Schalke 04 had a 3-1 win at home to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
Teenage midfielder Max Meyer profited from two Eric Choupo-Moting crosses to score for Schalke either side of halftime after Austria left-back Christian Fuchs had given the Royal Blues an early lead.
Germany winger Kevin Volland pulled a late goal back to give Hoffenheim a glimmer of hope.
Werder Bremen got back to winning ways with a 1-0 win against strugglers SC Freiburg.
Borussia Moenchengladbach remain on course for a Champions League spot for next season, staying third after their 2-2 draw against FSV Mainz 05.
VfB Stuttgart had a goalless draw at home to fellow strugglers Hertha BSC, while Borussia Dortmund and Hamburg SV had the same result.
SERIE A
AFP, MILAN, Italy
The future of AC Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi was left hanging in the balance after Nico Lopez hit an injury-time leveler for AC Chievo Verona in a 2-2 draw.
Elsewhere, UC Sampdoria had a 2-0 victory over Cagliari.
LA LIGA
AFP, MADRID
Real Madrid’s poor form this year continued as they were beaten 1-0 by Athletic Bilbao at the San Mames Barriaon Saturday.
Earlier, Sevilla kept their hopes of a top four finish alive with a thrilling 4-3 win away against RC Deportivo de La Coruna.
In other matches, Granada picked up three valuable points, but remained in the relegation zone following a 1-0 home win over rivals Malaga and Elche edged UD Almeria by the same scoreline.
LIGUE 1
AFP, PARIS
Paris Saint-Germain had a routine 4-1 home win against struggling Racing Club de Lens.
Fourth-placed AS Monaco also won, triumphing 3-1 away against Evian Thonon Gaillard.
A Diego Rolan brace, including a 95th-minute penalty, gave Girondins de Bordeaux a 2-1 win over Stade Malherbe Caen, while there were also victories for Stade Rennais, 1-0 against Metz; SC Bastia, 2-1 over OGC Nice; and Stade de Reims, 3-1 against Nantes.
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