Bayern Munich go 10 points clear

Roy Makaay and Michael Ballack gave Bayern Munich a 2-1 win at home to Nuremberg yesterday, sending the champions 10 points clear in the Bundesliga.

Makaay converted a clever pass from Claudio Pizarro 27 minutes into the Bavarian derby.

Nuremberg equalised eight minutes later with Robert Vittek's long range strike but a precise Ballack finish after the break gave Bayern their 10th win from 10 home league games.

After 21 matches, Bayern lead with 54 points and appear near certainties to win a 20th league title.

Bayern's failure to kill off games has been a feature of their season. They lived dangerously once again against Nuremberg and were grateful in the end for the brilliance of goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.

Ballack was fractionally over with a header from Ze Roberto's corner in the first minute and Germany's captain went close again from Bastian Schweinsteiger's cross from the right.

Bayern continued to control the game without looking dangerous before a nicely weighted reverse pass from Pizarro sent Makaay in to tuck the ball home for the opener.

Nuremberg were much the better side for the rest of the half and deservedly equalised when Vittek, teed up outside the box by Ivan Saenko's pass, lashed into the roof of the net.

Bayern were unconvincing in the second period but were fortunate that one of only a handful of chances fell to Ballack, who drilled the ball low into the opposite side of the goal from Makaay's pass.

Nuremberg came close to an equaliser with a rasping Dominik Reinhardt shot that struck a post.

Results

B. Munich vs Nuremberg 2-1
Cologne vs B. Dortmund 0-0