Bayern brush off Mainz
Barrios extends Dortmund’s lead at the top
Defending champions Bayern Munich went second in the Bundesliga yesterday with a 3-1 win at Mainz, while leaders Borussia Dortmund went 13 points clear with a 2-0 win over St Pauli.
Germany striker Mario Gomez, the league’s top scorer, completed Bayern’s rout with his 18th goal in 21 league games with a late strike after midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Mueller had put Bayern ahead.
Mainz’s Tunisia striker Sami Allagui scored a late consolation goal for the hosts, but Bayern warmed-up for Wednesday’s Champions League last 16 game at holders Inter with a win.
With Bayer Leverkusen playing relegation-threatened Stuttgart today, Bayern took their chance to go second, by virtue of a superior goal difference.
Dortmund stayed on course for their first league title since 2002 with a home win over Hamburg-based St Pauli after Paraguay forward Lucas Barrios netted for the 10th time this season six minutes before the half-time break.
He then made sure Dortmund took all three points with a 49th-minute shot that took a deflection off St Pauli defender Ralph Gunesch on the way into the net for an own goal.
Hanover are fourth in the table after a 3-0 win over Kaiserslautern, with former Germany striker Jan Schlaudraff netting twice.
Hamburg coach Armin Veh left Dutch hot-shot Ruud van Nistelrooy on the bench for his side’s 4-0 win over Werder Bremen.
Van Nistelrooy has been unsettled since former club Real Madrid tried to lure him back to Spain in January.
In the Dutchman’s absence Jose Guerrero netted twice, to leave Bremen just a point above the relegation zone with Hamburg seventh.
Freiburg’s Senegal striker Papiss Demba Cisse netted his 16th goal in 21 league games this season with a superb strike as he held off several defenders before stabbing the ball home on 70 minutes to seal a 2-1 win over Wolfsburg. The defeat leaves Wolfsburg just a point above a relegation place as they lost again after sacking ex-England coach Steve McClaren a fortnight ago.
Cologne continued to pick up points with a 1-1 draw against Hoffenheim.
Results
B. Dortmund 2 - St Pauli 0
Hamburg 4 - W. Bremen 0
Hannover 3 - Kaiserslautern 0
Freiburg 2 - Wolfsburg 1
Hoffenheim 1 - Cologne 1
Mainz 1 - Bayern Munich 3
Played on Friday
Nuremberg 3 - E. Frankfurt 0
Today
B. Leverkusen vs Stuttgart - 15.30
B. M’gladbach vs Schalke 04 - 17.30