Bayern Munich are 10 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 04.
As second-placed Borussia Dortmund were hosting Hamburg SV yesterday, 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 two weeks time.
Photo: AFP
Guardiola can sign off his three years in Munich with the treble before coaching Manchester City next season.
Bayern face Werder Bremen in the German Cup semi-finals tomorrow and have drawn Atletico Madrid in the last four 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 to end his dry patch after 390 minutes without a goal.
The Poland hotshot 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.
“I feel good again. There are phases when things do not go that well,” Lewandowski said after failing to score in his four previous matches. “We were slow in the first half, but played really well after the break.”
Vidal then added Bayern’s third when he tapped home after some superb individual skills from Franck Ribery, who jinxed his way through the Schalke defense before providing the final pass.
Earlier, Bayer 04 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 Leverkusen the lead on 70 minutes, just 43 seconds after coming off the bench for Werkself’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 BSC, who dropped one place after their 2-1 defeat at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
Hertha BSC, who are bidding for a first Champions League place since the 1999-2000 season, are winless in their last three games.
Hoffenheim earned the victory 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, VfL 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 equalized 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 playoff 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 SV Darmstadt 98 enjoyed a 2-0 win over Ingolstadt 04, while on Friday, bottom side Hanover 96 enjoyed a 2-0 win over Borussia Moenchengladbach, but remain 12 points from safety.
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