Bayern beats Leipzig, takes big step toward Bundesliga title

BERLIN (AP) — Leon Goretzka scored for Bayern Munich to take a giant step toward a record-extending ninth consecutive Bundesliga title with a 1-0 win at Leipzig on Saturday.

Goretzka’s 38th-minute strike was enough for Bayern to move seven points clear of second-place Leipzig with seven games of the season remaining. Bayern has only dropped points in seven games from 27 so far and the players celebrated the final whistle as if they had already won the title.

“We don’t need to talk about the title,” Leipzig chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff said.

Bayern had to make do without injured top-scorer Robert Lewandowski, a bitter blow for the Poland star who just needed to score against Leipzig to complete a remarkable feat of scoring against all 17 opposing teams in a Bundesliga season. With Leipzig the only exception this season, Lewandowski will have to be content sharing the record for scoring against 16 opponents in the 18-team league.

Lewandowski is out for around four weeks with a knee injury picked up playing for Poland in a World Cup qualifier against Andorra. He is also in danger of missing out on the Bundesliga record for goals in a season. Lewandowski needs just five more to match Bayern and West Germany great Gerd Müller’s haul of 40 from the 1971-72 season.

Leipzig tried hard but Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer really only had to make one outstanding save before the hour mark, denying the home side an equalizer when he tipped Marcel Sabitzer’s fierce strike over the crossbar.

Bayern’s goal could be replicated by Germany at the upcoming European Championship. Joshua Kimmich played a long ball to Thomas Müller, who eluded a defender and waited before playing it back for the in-rushing Goretzka to smash inside the right post.

NEUER'S EARLY SAVE

Neuer was called into action before the game when he used his towel to close a hole in the goal net. The attempted save was deemed not good enough by the referee's assistant who told referee Daniel Siebert that another solution was needed.

But Neuer had tied the towel hard and he was unable to remove it while wearing his goalkeeping gloves. Siebert lent his assistance. Kickoff was delayed slightly when the towel was replaced by cable ties holding the net together.

“Manu was creative,” Bayern coach Hansi Flick said of his goalkeeper. “This makes him stand out again.”

FRANKFURT WINS DUEL

André Silva scored late for Eintracht Frankfurt to win 2-1 at Borussia Dortmund and consolidate its Champions League qualification place at the home side’s expense.

Frankfurt stayed fourth in the Bundesliga’s last qualification spot for Europe’s top club competition and opened a seven-point gap over Dortmund.

“Not reaching the Champions League would be a catastrophe from a sporting and financial point of view,” said Dortmund defender Mats Hummels, who acknowledged it was “very, very difficult” now for his team to reach it.

Luka Jovic forced his way through on a counterattack before he was finally stopped by Hummels. But the rebound fell kindly for Filip Kostic to cross for Silva to head Frankfurt’s winner in the 87th minute. It was the Portugal striker’s 22nd goal of the season.

TWO FOR THURAM

Marcus Thuram scored twice as Borussia Mönchengladbach came from behind to beat Freiburg 2-1 in the late game.

Keven Schlotterbeck thought he had equalized in injury time for Freiburg, but the goal was ruled out through VAR for an offside call.

Gladbach's second win in two games lifted it above Freiburg and Union Berlin into seventh, though Union still has a derby game against Hertha Berlin on Sunday.

SCHALKE’S HUNTELAAR HOPE

Klaas Jan Huntelaar made his first start for Schalke at Bayer Leverkusen since his return, but the veteran Dutch striker was unable to inspire the league’s worst team to any improvement despite scoring in a 2-1 loss.

Kerem Demirbay crossed for Lucas Alario to open the scoring in the 26th, and Patrick Schick scored in the 72nd to ensure new Leverkusen coach Hannes Wolf got off to a winning start. Wolf replaced the fired Peter Bosz during the international break.

Huntelaar’s 81st-minute consolation will do little to prevent Schalke’s relegation. The Gelsenkirchen-based club remains last, 14 points from safety after collecting just 10 points all season.

Also, third-place Wolfsburg beat Cologne 1-0, Arminia Bielefeld fought back to draw 1-1 at relegation rival Mainz, and Augsburg enjoyed a 2-1 win over Hoffenheim.

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Ciarán Fahey on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cfaheyAP