Bayern wins top game at RB – setback for Dortmund

Berlin (dpa) – FC Bayern won the top game at RB Leipzig even without world footballer Robert Lewandowski and made a giant step on the way to the ninth championship in a row.

With a goal from Leon Goretzka (38th minute), the Munich team prevailed 1-0 (1-0). With this, Bayern increased their lead over their pursuers from Saxony to seven points in the seven league games that were still outstanding.

Qualification for the Champions League was a long way off for Borussia Dortmund. BVB lost 1: 2 (1: 1) against Eintracht Frankfurt and are now seven points behind the fourth-placed Hessen. The table third VfL Wolfsburg made another big step towards the premier class with a 1-0 (0-0) win against relegation-threatened 1. FC Köln. The wolves are already eleven points ahead of Dortmund. Arminia Bielefeld avoided a bitter setback in the relegation battle with a 1: 1 (0: 0) in direct competitions FSV Mainz 05.

Bayer Leverkusen’s new coach Hannes Wolf celebrated a successful debut with a 2: 1 (1: 0) against the last FC Schalke 04. FC Augsburg won 2: 1 (2: 0) against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and consolidated their place in secured midfield. In the late game on Saturday evening, Borussia Mönchengladbach won 2-1 (0-1) against SC Freiburg and moved up to four points on BVB and Bayer. Marcus Thuram (53rd and 60th) scored two goals for Borussia, Roland Sallai (10th) scored for the sports club.

Bayern coach Hansi Flick relied on Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in the storm after Lewandowski’s failure due to a knee injury. After Thomas Müller’s pass, Goretzka took the first opportunity to take the lead. For Bayern it was the 62nd competitive game in a row with a goal, for Goretzka the third goal in the last four games. For a long time, RB lacked determination.

Saturday started badly for BVB. Frankfurt’s Filip Kostic was able to cross on the left side, and Nico Schulz (11th) blocked the high ball into his own goal. Erling Haaland missed the great chance to equalize (25th) before Mats Hummels (45th) scored artistically from close range for BVB. The supposed 2: 1 for Eintracht by Stefan Ilsanker (65th) was not given because of offside – the winning goal by André Silva (87th) counted.

Wolf celebrated the first goal with his new team that Lucas Alario scored in the 26th minute. It was already the 70th goal conceded for Schalke after 27 games – a club record. In the second half, the Royal Blues were a bit more offensive, but Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick scored the next goal (72nd). Returning Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (81st) made himself Schalke’s oldest Bundesliga scorer at the age of 37 and 234 days.

Cologne played a good first half in Wolfsburg without scoring the opening goal. VfL did better: Josip Brekalo (70th) scored after Wout Weghorst’s dedicated preparatory work. Mainz needed a penalty from Bielefeld’s Mike van der Hoorn to take the lead. Daniel Brosinski (56th) transformed. But Andreas Voglsammer (76th) managed to equalize before an exciting final phase.

Augsburg took an early lead through Ruben Vargas (8th), André Hahn (23rd) followed up after a strong pass from the Swiss national player. Only in the second half did Hoffenheim improve, Robert Skov (86.) scored late.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210403-99-75063 / 5

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