Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich effortlessly cruised to a 1-0 victory at Hoffenheim yesterday courtesy of a Mario Gomez goal that kept them on course for the title with a 17-point advantage at the top.

Gomez, making a rare start in place of the team’s top scorer Mario Mandzukic, scored the only goal of a lacklustre game when he flicked in a Franck Ribery header in the 38th minute as Bayern grabbed their 11th away win this season and their seventh straight victory this year.

The Bavarians, who made five changes to the team that ousted holders Borussia Dortmund from the German Cup on Wednesday, lacked pace in attack but were rarely threatened by lowly Hoffenheim.

“It was a laborious victory. It was not sparkling and it was not brilliant but even for this you get three points,” Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes told reporters.

“It was tough because our opponents have their backs to the wall.”

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