Bayern Beat Leipzig To Inch Closer To Title, Dortmund Stumble Again

Bayern Munich took a huge step towards a ninth successive Bundesliga title on Saturday as they beat pretenders RB Leipzig 1-0 thanks to a first-half goal from Leon Goretzka.

Goretzka smashed the ball into the top corner shortly before the break as Bayern opened up a seven-point lead at the top of the table over second-place Leipzig with just seven games to go.

Despite a dominant performance in the second half, Leipzig will now need a near miracle if they are to stop Bayern winning a 30th Bundesliga title in May.

Kick-off was delayed by several minutes after Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer found a hole in his goal net, but the Bayern defence remained watertight in the first half despite Leipzig dominating possession.

Goretzka blasted in the opener shortly before half time, hitting a Thomas Mueller cut-back first time to pick up his fifth league goal of the season.

Leipzig came out fighting after the break, yet they failed to take their chances as Christopher Nkunku, Marcel Sabitzer and Dani Olmo all flashed shots just wide of the post.

DORTMUND FACE CATASTROPHE
Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels said his club are facing a "catastrophe" after a 2-1 home defeat to rivals Eintracht Frankfurt left their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread.

A late winner from Portuguese striker Andre Silva means Dortmund are seven points adrift of Frankfurt and the Champions League qualification places as they approach the final stretch of the campaign.

"Realistically, it's going to be very difficult to finish in the top four, even if we get six or seven more wins," Hummels told Sky after his side slumped to a 10th defeat of the season.

He said that missing the top four would be disastrous for Dortmund, who face a fight to hold on to coveted key players such as Erling Braut Haaland and Jadon Sancho in the next transfer window.

"Not qualifying for the Champions League would obviously be a sporting and financial catastrophe, and we are close to that now," said Hummels. (Reuters)