Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich, is about to clinch its eighth straight Bundesliga title after grinding out a 2-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach at the Allianz Arena.
The game had a lively start with the visitors taking the game to Bayer that is without the services of its two key players, Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Müller, who were out on suspension but the champions eventually secured the maximum point late into the game when Benjamin Pavard who scored an own goal set up Leon Goretzka for a tap in.
The win moves Bayern Munich to within one more win of being crowned Bundesliga champions for the eighth year in a row.
Due to the absence of Lewandowski and Müller and injury to some other starters, Bayern boss Hansi Flick had to bring in Lucas Hernandez, Serge Gnabry, Joshua Zirkzee, and Michael Cuisance into the team.
Gladbach had to force a change inside 10 minutes when their top striker Marcus Thuram injured himself.
The visitors would have gone in front when Jonas Hofmann tucked home from substitute Breel Embolo’s through ball on 16 minutes, but the decision was reversed by the VAR, which showed that he strayed narrowly offside.
Zirkzee got the home side in the lead with a clinical finish after intercepting Sommer’s ill-judged pass across his area.
Gladbach restored parity deservedly when Pavard turned Patrick Herrmann’s low ball across the six-yard box was turned into his net.
Late in the second half, Pavard made up for his earlier error by sliding a pass across goal for Goretzka to stab home four minutes from time.
The maximum points allow Bayern to maintain a seven-point cushion ahead of Borussia Dortmund. With a win over Werder Bremen on Tuesday, Bayern will clinch the title.
Borussia Dortmund level it late very late against Fortuna Düsseldorf
Erling Haaland once again came to the rescue of Borussia Dortmund through his 95th-minute winner to dash the hope of relegation-threatened Fortuna Düsseldorf at the Merkur Spiel-Arena.
In a game in which the hosts failed to test Roman Bürki in a combative first half-shaded, Dortmund wasted several chances as well.
In the 95th minute, BVB put the ball in the net when Haaland to glance in from Manuel Akanji with virtually the last kick of the game to secure maximum points for his team.
Fortuna sits above the automatic relegation zone on goal difference, with three rounds of fixtures remaining.
Wolfsburg and Freiburg in a 4-goal thriller
Wout Weghorst’s brace was not enough for Wolfsburg as Freiburg fight back to secure a 2-2 draw.
The UEFA Europa League-chasing team couldn’t get the maximum points at the Volkswagen Arena, with Lucas Höler and Roland Sallai canceling out Weghorst’s brace.
The quest to play in the Europa League next season could be a reality for Freiburg after Leipzig defeated Hoffenheim on Friday. They grabbed the opportunity with both hands by pressing Wolfsburg inside their half, but when the hosts got in front first.
Weghorst converted Renato Steffen’s assist to put them in the driving seat. Wolfsburg didn’t waste the second opportunity as well.
But this time around, it was from the penalty spot after Weghorst was fouled in the area, and he converted it to register his brace.
Freiburg reduced Wolfsburg’s deficit through Höler, who headed in a Vincenzo Grifo cross. The comeback was completed less than 30 seconds into the second half. Koen Casteels blocked Höler’s shot, but the ball sat up for Sallai to head towards goal with John Brooks unable to clear it off the line after looping in over him.
Werder Bremen relegates Paderborn
Werder Bremen’s Davy Klaassen scored his first Bundesliga brace as his team relegated Paderborn to the Bundesliga 2.
Bremen got in front when Klaassen nod in Theodor Gebre Selassie’s cross, which left Yuya Osako, who is in goal for the injured Leonardo Bittencourt helpless.
Selassie got the second goal following up on Josh Sargent’s deflected shot. Klaassen got his brace in the dying minute of the first half when he volleyed home the pick of the bunch after Milos Veljkovic had headed down a Rashica set piece.
Bremen got the fourth in the second half through Maximilian Eggestein, after reacting quickest to another saved shot from Sargent.
Paderborn reduced the deficit after the coach Steffen Baumgart brought in attackers in the final half-hour, throwing Kai Pröger and Abdelhamid Sabiri into the game. Sabiri scored a consolation goal from a corner.
Bremen put the icing on the cake through Niclas Füllkrug, who returned to action after being on the sidelines for nine months with ten minutes left.
Paderborn will finally be relegated if they fail to win Union Berlin on Tuesday.
